Today’s Christmas song is ‘Winter Wonderland’. This is a song written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and lyricist, Richard B. Smith. Due to its seasonal theme, it is often regarded as a Christmas song in the northern hemisphere. Since its original recording by Richard Himber, it has been covered by over 200 different artists, including Doris Day: Air Supply: Andy Williams: Bing Crosby: Dean Martin: Dolly Parton: Kenny Rogers: Johnny Mathis: Frank Sinatra: Ella Fitzgerald: Tony Bennett, Michael Buble: Radiohead and many more.
The song's lyrics are about a couple enjoying a picturesque winter landscape. They build a snowman, whom they agree to pretend is Parson Brown. They imagine the snowman asking if the couple is married, to which they tell him that they are not. They tell the snowman that he can marry them.
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If I was asked to design a Christmas card that showed the seasonal aspect as opposed to the religious aspect of Christmas, there would most certainly be snow in the scene, and whether or not the card contained images of a happy young courting couple or a family group, what the card would be purporting to convey is, seasonal ‘love, happiness, and togetherness’.
It will be difficult for so many people during this Christmas season to feel all three of these blessings with the current Coronavirus restrictions. Some may be ill, some may feel very unhappy, some may feel alone. Some may be very ill or are dying with a terminal condition; some may feel so poor and impoverished of sustenance, accommodation, warmth, security, and purpose, that they may even wish they were dead. All those people who lost loving partners and spouses in recent years are more likely to feel that absence of ‘togetherness’ we all need in order to feel content and complete. Our prayers remain with all of you this Christmas.
There have been times in my life when I have seriously asked myself if it is right and fitting for me to feel so happy with myself, my partner, my religion, and my life as I do when many others in the world do not feel like me? I have frequently posed the question in my mind, what right do I have to be happy and purposeful, and embrace my life daily as though there is no tomorrow. My own simple answer is that for me, there will always be a tomorrow; if not in this life, then in the next. That is a great consolation to me as I close my eyes to sleep at the end of each day. It also feels so good to open them at the start of each new day before me that presents a fresh challenge of a new say's experience.
Sheila and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and it is our hope that if you are unable to experience feelings of love, happiness, and togetherness’ at the moment that these feelings will become genuine emotions for you in the New Year.
Love and peace Bill xxx