Classic Christmas Stories Are a Timeless Gift

Classic Christmas Stories Are a Timeless Gift
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Melanie_West]Melanie West

Absconding in the attic, I rummaged through an unyielding box of Christmas decorations looking for the beautiful ornaments from years gone by, when, amidst the pile I land upon “the book.” Immediately a smile crosses my lips. Fond memories of Christmas’ past come flooding back. In my mind’s eye, I see my mother gathering our family together to read a favored story.

This family tradition began when I was only 8-years old and continued well into my teens. My mother would call us into the family room…fireplace lit…lights aglow on the Christmas tree…peace and quiet spreading throughout our house as we snuggled under the weight of the family quilt. It was then that my sister and I would anxiously anticipate the opening words; the beginning of a treasured tale from our most prized collection of beloved Christmas stories.

There was something reassuring about this particular ritual. We could hardly wait for my mother to bring out “the book” each December. Year after year, this tradition was carried out in our home and year after year the stories became more meaningful to me.

Even when I had grown into a teenager, I still loved it when my mother brought out the much-loved Christmas book. It filled me with a great sense of joy and connection. As I matured, the stories grew richer as my own understanding of their meaning expanded. Steeped in tradition, knowledge, morals and values, the stories gave me new insight about life, love, family and spirituality. As I began experiencing my own personal hopes, dreams and desires, the stories took on a new layer of significance. It happened slowly, but one Christmas, I realized that as I had grown, the stories had grown with me. Now buried deep within my soul their masterfully crafted sentences had become deeply significant. As a young girl I simply loved the magic of the stories; as a young woman, I could more readily relate to the wonder and struggle the characters encountered.

Thank goodness, my mother understood that children never outgrow the desire to hear a story read aloud. She sensed that we loved hearing her comforting voice. Listening to her infuse the literature with life and passion inspired each of us to learn how to train our voices, empowering us to learn how to express heart-felt enthusiasm.

So, as another season approaches, “the book” is being unpacked. My heart is grateful for the strong family traditions I grew up with, my soul anticipating the awakening of the true Spirit of Christmas. My inner child dancing with excitement, wondering which one of these “perfect” Christmas stories I will read to my children this December.

As an Educational Psychologist, Melanie West, M.A., specializes in helping bright, creative children fulfill their highest learning potential. Working closely with youngsters that have learning challenges, such as dyslexia, attention deficit disorder and other learning abilities, her unique and loving guidance helps students’ triumph over the challenges of learning. Strongly believing in the value of reading, most recently Ms. West has became involved in the compilation of a book of favorite Christmas stories that rekindles fond memories of strong family values and hearty family traditions. The Most Loved Christmas Stories can be purchased by visiting [http://www.mostlovedstories.com]

To learn more about the stories, you can also contact Ms. West by e-mail at  [mailto:melanie@dynamiclearningservices.com]melanie@dynamiclearningservices.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Classic-Christmas-Stories-Are-a-Timeless-Gift&id=1618337] Classic Christmas Stories Are a Timeless Gift

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