Element of Fun - Blessings
One of Francesca’s favorite family Christmas Eve rituals is the welcome toast or blessing. “I strongly encourage the host or host family to begin the dinner with a welcome toast. My recommendations include starting with a prayer, a poem, a joke or a short poignant story.” Francesca recalls, “In our family, we usually take turns around the table to share our feelings. The exchange of words are what makes Christmas Eve so special for us.”
To get family members and guests involved, prepare place cards which have a different inspirational quote selected for each individual. Choose quotes that reflect on topics like happiness, charity, giving, love or friendship. After your welcome toast, ask guests to share their inspirational quote with the rest of the table. It’s sure to evoke feelings and inspire reflection on and conversation about the true gifts of the holiday season. Here are some ideas for quotations, courtesy of
www.quotationspage.com:
“Life is an adventure in forgiveness” – Norman Cousins, US editor & essayist (1912 - 1990)
“A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge” – Thomas Carlyle, Scottish author, essayist, & historian (1795 - 1881)
“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Sir Winston Churchill, British politician (1874 - 1965)
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” - Aesop, The Lion and the Mouse, Greek slave & fable author (620 BC - 560 BC)
“Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.” - George Sand, French author (1804 - 1876)
“One kind word can warm three winter months.” - Japanese proverb
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” - The Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist religious leader (1935 - )
“That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” - William Wordsworth, English poet (1770 - 1850)
“Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” - Eddie Cantor, US comedian & singer (1892 - 1964)
“When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.” - Japanese Proverb
“Let us make one point, that we meet each other with a smile, when it is difficult to smile. Smile at each other, make time for each other in your family.” - Mother Teresa, in her Nobel lecture, Indian humanitarian & missionary (1910 - 1997)
