HEALING HEARTACHES, STORIES OF LOSS AND LIFE

Rainbows at Christmas Time

Christmas week is going quickly.... many are busy running here, running there, doing this and doing that... going, going and going some more...

This is the 357th day of the year, only 8 days left of 2009! Isn't that amazing? Where did the year go... seems to go by quick these days. Each day with its own set of challenges, struggles and even miracles. We must be mindful and make the choice: is the glass half-empty or half-full.... it is a choice we make!

In 1954 the first human kidney transplant was performed in Boston on this day! We've come a long way baby . . .

In 1970 the North Tower of the World Trade Center is topped out at 1,368 feet making it the tallest building in the world... and in 2001 our world stood still as that building changed the landscape forever in the hearts of a nation.

But for today, December 23, 2009 ... many are frantically wrapping up those last minute gifts while others are packing and preparing for trips to loved ones near and far.  Still others are preparing for the holidays differently than ever before, each making their own path; finding their own way...

Some are celebrating and having parties at work; bosses are showing appreciation to their staff with gifts and/or bonuses at year end. Bonuses that reflect an employee's dedication and often their value to the work or to the boss.  Some may do well to just give a card as opposed to risk the under-appreciation that may be felt (particularly if the gift is less valuable than previous years and the output is greater than could have ever been hoped for).  But often folks forget; they tend to overlook their most valued assets until it is too late... ah but for the spirit of the holidays to remind us of the value of the gifts of humankind.

And so it goes... a kind word, a thoughtful deed, a meaningful letter when finances are not there or times are tough can mean so much. Random acts of kindness from the heart are priceless it seems and never go out of style. The magic of rainbows in winter and the twinkle of lights will always amaze the child within no matter the age or circumstance.

A Ojibwa Tribe Legend about Rainbow!

As we pause to think of today's many achievements and the deeds of great ones it is interesting to learn what the Iroquois Indians thought of the heavenly bodies 2,000 years ago.

They believed the blue sky was a rich  fertile land where everything for man and animal grew in abundance. The Sun and Moon were man and wife who had come down through a hole in the sky each morning and returned back through another hole to better land at night.

Heng, the Thunder God, grew angry at the Sun as he watched the Moon grow thinner and fade away. Believing the Sun was mistreating- his wife, the-God cast a great black cloud across the Sun's shining face, not realizing the heat would melt the cloud and drops of rain would result in a magnificent rainbow.

Upon seeing, the multi colored rainbow, the animals were anxious to travel the path to this land above. They went to Turtle,  and begged to ascend the path. Ignoring warning of possible danger they ran up the rainbow. The animals did not realize that once the rain stopped, the rainbow would soon disappear and when that happened they were all left in the sky. The Iroquois claimed the gods outlined the animals' bodies in stars and some of our constellations are still known for the animal shapes they represent today. So there you go! A story for you on the week of Christmas...


Walk In Beauty,

author of Healing Heartaches, Stories of Loss and Life

http://www.healingheartaches.com/
http://www.drsherryeshowalter.com/


p/s: Having a blast with the fam -1 Angie! We miss ya, Ang; and think about you while planning the next meal and riding around looking at the lights of night!