Celebrating Christmastide: How the 12 Days of Christmas Deepens the Joy

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Christmastide

The weeks following Christmas Day are actually the feast of Christmastide. A long feast beginning on Christmas Day and culminating on Epiphany. It is essentially a mini-season of the Church Calendar in which we feast and celebrate for the King has come!! 

Over the last few years I have experienced my soul feeling it’s worth through advent causing me to linger in His light on Christmastide. This choosing to linger gives me eyes to look to the church calendar and fill that room prepared for Him, with his word, his hope, and prayer. 

The 12 Days of Christmas surprised me with symbolism that encourages us as we linger in the gift of Christ embodied. I am intrigued by the history behind this song and by the meaning behind each of the gifts and how they point back to Jesus and his word. 
I am excited to share what I have learned these last few years though a poem I wrote inspired by this carol. Today I will share the first six days.

12 Days of Christmas

This love poem leads us straight to his heart
The partridge in the pear tree gives her life 
Freely for her chicks safety 
He on a tree did not withhold his life 
But instead gave it up for us
Like two turtle doves representing the two testament of the Bible 
In the beginning was the Word and the word became flesh
He not only spoke the galaxies into being 
But drew near making his dwelling with us
His word is recorded for us bringing us peace and truth 
As beautiful as three french hens 
He give us faith, hope, and love three gifts ever new
Not only does He strengthen our faith 
But He is the Hope of Glory so we put our hope in Him
The greatest of these is Love, and His love is everlasting
Like four calling birds the four gospels tell of the days you walked the earth 
Matthew shows us you’re the Messiah awaited for generations
Mark lets us in to your years of ministry as he follows after you
Luke gives us an orderly account with glimpses into your childhood
John  poetically reminds us of your deity from the beginning 
As golden as five golden rings the five books of The Torah 
for generations have been your love story to your people
These five books point us to your presence with us
You were with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as you promised
You were also with their descendants and through them you are with us
As six geese a laying new life you took six day to create 
Out of nothing you created the universe 
You dreamt us up since before the foundation of the earth
With your hands you molded and shaped human kind 
Your breath gave us life and your breath gives us life 
~Daisy Fuentes Dronen

More Ways to Connect with this Carol

I pray that these verses encourage you. If you want to see the individual posts for each day check out the posts I have written about these on IG. I am also sharing my new favorite rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas but make it gospel. It is absolutely lovely.

Gracefully,

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What a perfect time to start honing your charcuterie skills! I have just the right thing to help you feel ready and confident while you gather. I created this simple and beautiful charcuterie guide for you. In my opinion it’s cute enough to show and then it would always be available for you! Plus, I am always honored to offer you practical content for purposeful and life giving time around the table. Check it out by clicking on the graphic below!

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