Are You Ready for Christmas?

This writer’s gift to you this Christmas Season is something written long ago by Henry Jackson van Dyke (November 10, 1852 – April 10, 1933). He was a prolific American author, educator, and clergyman.

Are You Ready for Christmas?
Are you willing to stoop down
and consider the needs and desires of little children;

to remember the weaknesses and loneliness of people
 who are growing old;

to stop asking how much your friends love you,
and to ask yourself whether you love them enough;

to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts;

...to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke,

and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you;

to make a grave for your ugly thoughts
and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open?

Are you willing to do these things for a day?

Then you are ready for Christmas!

– Henry Van Dyke

Carpe Diem Life,
Merry Christmas,
David Kuhn

CarpeDiem-Life.com