I jointly dedicate my Christmas songs today to two people who celebrate their birthday on this most sacred day of the year that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ also. Our two birthday celebrants are Chris Cuddihy and Rose Predeep. Chris was born in the same Irish village as me and lives in County Waterford, Ireland. Rose was born in Bangalore, India.
Sheila and I wish all our Facebook friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May your seasonal break be one of good cheer and celebration for all the good things in your life that we too often take for granted. I refer to important things such as, one’s beliefs, family, friends, good neighbours and not forgetting health, hope and happiness.
Please give a thought to all those people who lost their partners and who find Christmas time difficult to cope with without their soul mate. Christmas always seems farther away when your soul mate is no longer with you. Give thanks for the good times you had together and good memories will stay at the forefront of your mind this Christmas.
I would also ask that you keep Sheriann Kirby in your thoughts and prayers this Christmas, along with my brother-in-law, Richard Lumb. Sheriann is going through a great deal of pain with her illness. May this Christmas bring you some respite, Sheriann, and allow you and your husband, Nick, as pleasurable a Christmas as possible. Richard has to remain in the hospital for a number of tests during the whole month of January 2020, so he is being allowed home for seven hours today before returning to his hospital bed at 7:00 pm this evening. Sheila, me and my daughter, Rebecca will visit him this afternoon at my sister Mary’s house.
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One of my earliest childhood set of words that I committed to memory was one of my mother’s sayings that she frequently reminded her seven children. She would say, “Never forget, Billy, it is nice to be important, but it is far more important to be nice!”
Too many of us busy and concern ourselves with establishing an image and position of importance in our world. In our pursuit of admiration and approval as an individual, we tend to forget about being a nice person and instead promote our importance in the eyes of society. The garment I have always found the most uncomfortable to wear is the coat of modesty, as it has no pocket in it where I can store my pride. All the pockets in ‘the coat of modesty’ are filled with what really matters about a person and what really constitutes the building blocks of good character; honesty, love, compassion, forgiveness, charity, belief and being a good neighbour.
This Christmas, please be the good people you were always meant to be and intrinsically are; not forgetting to be nice to oneself as well as being nice to others. Be not too hard on oneself or others when we do not come up to scratch, and remember, it is impossible to be able to truly forgive others for any past wrongs they have done you until you are also able to forgive yourself for past misgivings to others.
The greatest of all presents you will receive this Christmas is a reminder of the gift of Love that you have always possessed. This is the most priceless of all possessions, and the more you express it towards others, the more love and life reward you will receive in return. It is the best personal investment you will ever make. Happy Christmas everyone. Bill and Sheila xx
Love and peace Bill xxx