My Monday Motivation and Inspiration post today is dedicated to the holiday I celebrate at this time of year. I invite those of you who celebrate other holidays to read these quotes in the spirit of Christmas and feel free to submit quotations about your preferred December holiday in the comments.
Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart…filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.
–Bess Streeter Aldrich, Song of Years
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
–Clement Clark Moore, The Night Before Christmas
It was the beginning of the greatest Christmas ever. Little food. No presents. But there was a snowman in their basement.
–Markus Zusak, The Book Thief
One can never have enough socks. Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.
–J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Thousands of lights were burning on the green branches, and gaily-colored pictures, such as she had seen in the shop-windows, looked down upon her. The little maiden stretched out her hands towards them when–the match went out. The lights of the Christmas tree rose higher and higher, she saw them now as stars in heaven.
–Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Match Girl
And how did little Tim behave?” asked Mrs Cratchit, when she had rallied Bob on his credulity and Bob had hugged his daughter to his heart’s content.
“As good as gold,” said Bob, “and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”
―Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.”
―Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express
You don’t have to celebrate Christmas to hear the bell of joy, hope, love, and the wish for world-wide peace and understanding. I still hear the bell. Do you?
Merry Christmas to you, Lynette! I hope next year has less rough times than this one did.
Thank you, Jennette. I appreciate your good wishes very much. I know you’ll have some stresses in the new year, but I hope they’re all good and your new house build and move all goes smoothly.