"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Sunday's Gift




Thank you Elizabeth from Transitional Woman-






Thank you Monica from The Chicken Wrangler:

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
This week, I found out.
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
CHRISTMAS AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY
 Arlington National Cemetery

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell...

Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine . The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one of the poorest parts of the state.
Thank you Monica at Chicken Wrangler.
 x_3bb4e489
You will love this - and it is the thought of the day - thanks Debby at Just Breathe.

39 comments:

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Another great post this morning, my Friend... I'm just stopping by to tell you and your precious family to have a blessed Christmas.

God Bless.
Hugs,
Betsy

Bev said...

Good Morning Sandi!! Love the post.. that mob singing is wonderful is it not. Love the 12 days of Christmas...Have a wonderful Christmas

Nancy said...

Love that story about the wreaths!

Beth said...

I hadn't heard the story behind the song. Very interesting.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

oh i loved the flash mob! thank you...

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxo

Debby@Just Breathe said...

The wreaths are so beautiful. I always enjoy those flash mobs. Hope you have a beautiful Sunday.
Love, Debby

TexWisGirl said...

the cemetery wreaths are so beautiful and touching.

Susannah said...

Thank you to that wonderful man in Maine who sends the wreaths to Arlington. Bless him! What a beautiful sight.


Miss Chatty, I loved every single bit of this post! Made me have goosebumps!

Christmas blessings to you and yours,
Susannah

betty said...

FIL/MIL are buried in a national cemetery. We went up there last week and saw the wreaths laid. What a wonderful tribute to those that served.

betty

MadSnapper said...

the flash mob gave me chilly bumps

MunirGhiasuddin said...

Hope that you and your loved ones have a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I am sure I will be stopping by before New Year:)

Unknown said...

Never heard that about that song. Sure make you think of it in a much different way! The Lights video was spectacular! Thanks! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Ms. A said...

I've read that about the twelve days of Christmas and wondered if that wouldn't be a good way to incorporate learning in other levels of life. Some things are just easier to remember in song form.

Merry Christmas, Sandi!

Ann said...

What a generous thing for that man to do. The wreaths looks beautiful.
Years ago I remember hearing a sermon at church that was an explanation of the 12 days of Christmas. Although it makes sense to me now I still can't stand hearing that song....lol

Catherine said...

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season with Peace, Health and Happiness!
xo Catherine

Shelly said...

I always love visiting your place- things to learn and be inspired by!

jack69 said...

Nice to stop by the Happy Site. Love the entry. You always do come up with a good 'un.
Good to be back reading. Missed you.
Hope you are having a Great and MERRY Christmas Season.
Love from Orlando.....
jack & Sherry...

Linda said...

As always - such a great post!!!

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Happy Sunday to you too. We've been lazy here today. Tired out from all the festivities of yesterday. Feels good to do nothing.

Susan said...

Oh, that was a nice post, Sandie. Imagine that guy donating all those wreaths and the travel expenses to get them there! What a guy.

It's sad to see all of them, isn't it? All those lives lost. God bless their souls.

Hope your weekend has been super. Susan

Dar said...

You are filling my heart with the Christmas Spirit and I thank you. It's been a rough yr. and you've made it hopeful. The vivid reminder of all our fallen troops have done for us, incredibally humbles.
Merriest of Christmas to you, dear girl.
BlessYourHeart

Elizabeth Edwards said...

every time i see a cemetery such as this one pictured, it really bring tears to my eyes. such a simple gesture but so lovely.

great singing.

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year in 2013. big hugs. ( :

Ginny Hartzler said...

Flash mobs are so cool, and this one even has a bit of a play in it. My favorite part of flash mobs is seeing how they first start, the at the end, all the people just blend right back into the crowd. The house with the Amazing Grace and lights, FABULOUS!!

BelovedBomber said...

That Christmas song has always been one of my least favorite...so thankful for the hidden meaning info. Thanks

Nikki (Sarah) said...

beautiful light show.....and the meaning of the song....love it. Gayle....chatty girl....Sandie....wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas....from my heart to yours.

andy said...

Merry christmas !!!!! I hope you have a great holiday

Connie said...

Lots of fun information in this post, Chatty. I love flash mobs too!

Connie Arnold said...

Thanks for sharing the great post, Sandie. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and many blessings for you and your loved ones.

DD said...

Hi Chatty,
This is a very interesting blog entry, all of it. The Flash Mob video is just wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Merry Christmas,
DD

Tweedles -- that's me said...

I love the Christmas songs!
Merry Christmas to your family.
love
tweedles

Rob-bear said...

Glad you discovered the history of that hymn. Wonderful that you shared it.

And I did enjoy that choir-in-the-mall singing. I think that's about the fourth time I've seen it. But it is lovely every time.

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Sandie.

Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball said...

As a Catholic, I did know the history of the song. For 20 years, we've put a twist on the song...we anonymously give friends 12 gifts, over 12 days (small things.) We make plays on the versus and give funny things. It's become a great tradition! Hope your Christmas is wonderful!

Pondside said...

Merry Christmas, Sandie! Thank you for all the smiles and all the great starts to the day you've given me.

Eat To Live said...

That poem gave me the shivvers. Beautiful!!

Merry Christmas Sandie!

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

What an interesting and informative post ... as yours always are. ;-)

Wishing you and yours a very blessed Christmas!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Happy Christmas Eve...

Happy Christmas...

"Auntie"

Beansieleigh said...

Wonderful post!.. interesting about the carol, and heart-warming about the wreaths!.. I have an EXTREMELY busy day ahead, but I just wanted to quick stop by to wish you and yours a blessed and very Merry Christmas, Sandie!! Enjoy! ((love -n- hugs)) ~tina

SquirrelQueen said...

I didn't know about the wreathes at Arlington, that is an amazing story. The Christmas lights display is really pretty, love the music.

Betty Manousos said...

a beautiful and very informative post, sandie.

...i didn't know about the wreaths at arlington; what a wonderful story!