Well, I’m not quite sure if we celebrated Christmas or the Fourth of July this week. Welcome to Mississippi.

I’m beginning to think we have been in shorts for Christmas just about as many times as sweaters. I even saw where several friends in Jackson actually went swimming Christmas day.

I truly love when Christmas falls on a Sunday, hot or not. We get a true sense of the real meaning of Christmas, as we take a break from toys and food to worship.

During the holidays, I came across a poem about the new year. I thought it was worthy of sharing.

Recipe for a Happy New Year

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.    

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution.

Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor. —Anonymous

Happy New Year everyone!