Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Happy Holy Days!
I'm so delighted you're joining me right now for Blissberry Bear's Holiday Storytime.
My name is Timothy and sitting on my lap is Blissberry Bear.
Blissberry zoomed into my life 40 years ago from the Great Bear constellation in his Blue Pearl Starship to tell children of all ages magical,
Mystical fairy tales of the heart.
Fairy tales that are fun,
Entertaining,
And educational,
Blending fantasy and reality with tips for helping you and your children in your daily lives.
Today's Christmas tale is titled The Christmas Starlight.
I edited this story.
It was written by my brother,
Jeffrey,
And it's appropriate for children of all ages.
And I imagine just like when I first read it,
This heartwarming,
Inspiring Christmas story will bring tears to your eyes,
Joy to your hearts,
And soulful inspiration for many Christmases to come.
I may even tear up again as I read it with you.
What appears to be a burnt out Christmas bow provides lessons on hurt feelings,
Sharing feelings,
Being inquisitive,
Experiencing life with the joy of a child,
Letting go of agendas when they no longer serve us,
Taking time to be in the moment with our children,
And how each person can see something different in the same object.
As you're listening,
Use your imagination to create pictures of the words and bring the story to life in your mind's eye.
Listening to fairy tales like this and creating your own pictures is the number one way to grow your imagination muscles.
So light up your imaginations like a brightly lit Christmas tree and create pictures in your mind as you listen.
Get comfy.
It's not a long tale,
But it's not short either.
Goldilocks might say it's not a papa bear or a baby bear tale.
It's a mama bear tale.
So from high atop a dusty shelf,
Too high for most children to see,
Came the silent plea.
Pick me.
Pick me.
Buy me.
Buy me.
I will brighten your holiday.
I will brighten everyone's holiday.
Pick me.
Display me,
And you'll be happy.
Oh,
So happy.
You'll see.
Pick me.
It was a plea that had been pleaded many times before,
Hour after hour,
Day after day,
Week after week,
Month after month,
Year after year.
A plea that was never heard until one day,
A child standing on the tips of her tip toes stretched her hand toward a dusty shelf.
All right.
Yes.
Finally,
I'm going to be selected.
I'm going to be picked.
I'm going to be part of the Christmas holiday.
The plain dusty box was even more excited as the girl held it in her hands,
Wondering what might be inside.
Oh,
Please open me.
Open me.
Look inside.
Look inside.
Please.
This is the closest I've ever been.
The plain dusty box quivered and shivered with anticipation.
Pick me.
Buy me.
I will brighten your holiday.
Before Amanda could lift the lid and satisfy her growing curiosity,
Her mother,
Arms filled with bags of presents,
Hurried towards her.
With a stern look and a somewhat commanding voice,
She barked,
Amanda,
Where did you get that?
Put it down.
It's old and dusty.
I'm busy,
Busy,
Busy.
We must go.
I have more shopping to do for Christmas.
Put it down.
Completely focused on the box and wondering what was inside,
Amanda didn't hear her mother's commands.
She had already started to open the box when her mother arrived at her side.
Don't open that.
I don't have time for this nonsense,
Her mother continued.
I just want to see what's inside.
Please,
Please,
Amanda pleaded.
It might be a present for someone.
It might be pretty.
It might be a bargain,
Mom.
You like bargains.
With a disapproving glare and a voice that was anything but supportive,
Her mother sternly replied,
Well,
Go ahead,
But hurry.
We have much to do.
We must finish shopping.
Take a quick look,
Put it back,
And then follow me out of this store.
Not waiting around to share in Amanda's adventure or to satisfy her own curiosity for a potential bargain,
Her mom turned to leave.
Visibly shaking a little from her mother's harshness,
Her soft green eyes curiously staring at the lid of the very plain,
Very dusty old box,
Amanda's fingers slowly started to pry it open.
As she peeked inside,
Her eyes opened wide,
A smile spread across her lips.
Her breath gasped in awe,
And every cell of her body tingled in happy delight.
Smiling,
No grinning as she closed the lid and took her very own little treasure chest to the checkout counter,
Amanda asked,
How much is this Christmas light?
What Christmas light,
Dear?
Mary,
The store owner,
Replied.
This dusty old box contains nothing but a burnt-out Christmas bulb.
See,
She said,
Opening the box for Amanda to see,
Nothing but a single burnt-out Christmas bulb.
But,
But,
But,
Amanda stammered.
The most beautiful light came from the box,
A special Christmas light.
I saw it,
It sparkled and glowed like a rainbow.
I saw it,
I did.
I saw a light as bright as the Christmas star.
I felt it,
Too,
And I know it can brighten people's holidays,
Bringing happiness and joy to all who see it.
Sorry,
Mary said,
It's nothing but a box with a burnt-out bulb.
But,
Since your mother is one of our best customers,
You can have it.
Would you like it wrapped?
Yes,
I would,
But my mom's waiting in a hurry.
Okay,
Then,
I'll just wipe it off really quick.
As she handed it to Amanda,
Mary said,
Merry Christmas,
But don't expect it to work.
Amanda was so elated as she skipped out of the store with her Christmas treasure.
With ecstatic excitement and enthusiasm bursting in her voice,
She called to her mother,
Who was waiting for her by the store's only entrance.
Look,
Mom,
Look,
Look what Mary gave me,
A special Christmas light.
Still locked in her own mind,
Thinking of all the things she still had to do,
Blanche was totally unwilling and unable to share in her daughter's delight.
What in the world are you still doing with that dusty old box?
I told you to put it down.
I want you to take it back.
But,
Mom,
Amanda pleaded.
No buts,
Young lady,
No pouting.
You heard me,
Blanche firmly stated,
Standing her ground.
But,
Mary gave it to me,
Amanda cried.
I don't care,
Blanche retorted,
Totally oblivious to Amanda's feelings.
We're late.
March back into that store right now.
Tell Mary you're putting it back where you got it and do so right now.
With her Christmas spirit nearly crushed,
Tears welling up in her eyes from a broken heart and her tiny hands trembling,
Amanda returned to the store.
Before placing the plain old,
No longer dusty,
Box back onto its shelf,
Amanda gently lifted the lid for one more peek and whispered,
You made me so happy today.
You brightened my holiday.
I'll never forget you.
I'll always remember you.
I'll always be able to feel my delighted smile and every cell of my body tingling in joyful delight when I first saw you.
You are my Christmas starlight.
As if the light of a thousand stars had just entered her eyes and set her whole body aglow,
Amanda left the store feeling happier than happy,
Lighter than light,
And brighter than bright.
Week after week,
Month after month,
And year after year passed as once again dust piled up on the plain old box and the silent plea continued.
Pick me.
Buy me.
Buy me.
Pick me.
I will brighten your holiday.
You'll see.
Pick me.
Fifteen Christmases came and went.
Before one Christmas Eve,
Another pair of young hands reached up and grabbed a much still plain,
Much dustier box.
The little box could feel its inner glow starting to shine brighter.
All right.
Yes,
I'm going to be selected.
I'm going to be picked.
Maybe this time I'm really going to get to be part of the Christmas holiday again.
Just like it experienced many years before,
The plain dusty box became even more excited as another little girl held it in her hands,
Wondering what might be inside.
Oh,
Please open me and look inside.
Look inside,
Please.
Oh,
I'm so close.
Pick me.
Buy me.
I will brighten your holiday.
As Sasha's little fingers gently started to pry it open and she peeked inside for the very first time,
Her bright blue eyes opened wide,
The widest smile ever spread across her lips.
She sighed in awe and every cell of her delighted body tingled in delightful joy.
Wow,
She exclaimed.
Look at this,
Mommy.
Look inside.
Can we take it home?
Please,
Please.
Standing at the checkout stand,
Sasha's mother asked,
How much for the Christmas light in the box,
Mary?
Oh,
My goodness,
Mary replied in surprise.
I forgot about that box.
Years and years ago,
I gave that box with a burned out light bulb to a little girl and her mother made her put it back on the shelf.
It's been there ever since.
Yes,
I know,
Amanda replied,
Her eyes sparkling and smile beaming.
Well,
I'll be,
Mary exclaimed.
You're that little girl.
Yes,
I am.
And this is my little girl,
Sasha.
Turning the opening of the box towards Sasha and Amanda,
Mary opened it and said,
Well,
As you can see,
Nothing has changed.
Still an old dusty box with a burnt out bulb.
But if you still want it,
You can have it.
Sasha and Amanda wished Mary the merriest Christmas ever and couldn't wait to get home and share this amazing Christmas starlight with the rest of the family.
And to this day,
That plain old no longer dusty box sits in the Faith family's front windowsill every year at Christmastime with the lid open all day and all night.
As streams of onlookers in cars,
Trucks and buses pass by,
I wonder what they see.
And I wonder what wonders everyone would see all the time if they always looked with the eyes of a child.
Told you I might not get through it without cheering up.
With wishes for your everlasting happiness and peace,
With prayers for peace among all people,
And with great love and respect for your individual journeys through life,
Blissberry and I love you already.
From the bliss and love of our one heart,
Merry,
Merry Christmas and happy,
Happy holidays and holy days,
Decorated with blessings,
Blessings,
Blessings,
And a bright and beautiful Christmas starlight shining atop your tree,
Shining in your window,
And or glowing in your heart and soul.
