I was 38 years old (aka, this happened today) when it occurred to me that the lyric from “Joy to the World” that goes “let every heart / prepare him room” means “let every heart make space for Jesus” and not, as I have long reflexively imagined without any reflection, “clean up a room in your home for Him.” I have known the words to that song since I was a first-grader in the Annunciation School Christmas Pageant, when my classmate Tina’s hair caught on fire in the vestibule, and that lyric has always conjured the image of my mother turning down the bed linens in the guest room of her home, or sweeping up the floor of the kitchen in anticipation of visitors. It’s not altogether the wrong image, though, is it? The idea of taking a minute to tidy ourselves up for the coming of an important guest? Of whitewashing the house? Of turndown service for an anticipated visitor?
Whether you are religious or not, it is a beautiful image: preparing ourselves for what is good.
Merry Christmas, Magpies.
Wishing you peace and flow and kinder seas.
Post-Scripts.
In case you aren’t celebrating, or (as mentioned yesterday) are in search of diversion born of loneliness or work commitments, I have a fun little roundup of favorite shopping finds at a couple of my favorite boutiques.
J. Crew Favorites.
CASHMERE CABLE KNIT // FEATHER SKIRT // COLETTE MULES // CHATEAU PUFFER // CRYSTAL BALL EARRINGS // CABLE KNIT ROLLNECK SWEATER // EVENING BLAZER JACKET // FEATHER TRIM TOP // CORDS // ZOE BALLET FLAT
Shopbop Favorites.
CANADA GOOSE PUFFER // CAROLINE AMATO GLOVES // ASKK NY GEEK JEANS // DEEPA GURNANI EARRINGS // ASTR VANOZZA DRESS // WANDER BEAUTY ILLUMINATOR/BLUSH STICK // BAUM UND PFERDGARTEN TANK // MARNI RELATIVITY BAG // OUAI SCALP AND BODY SCRUB // ALEX MILL CARDIGAN // MOTHER JEANS // STAUD SHOKO CARDIGAN // AQUAZURRA VELVET PLATFORMS
Nordstrom Favorites.
CASHMERE TURTLENECK // MADEWELL PERFECT FIT WIDE LEG JEANS // VEJA CAMPO SNEAKER // BYREDO PERFUME TRIO // 7AM ENFANT BUNTING // OPEN EDIT SLINGBACK // TOPSHOP KNIT DRESS // NORTH FACE NUPTSE RETRO JACKET // ALO SWEATSHIRT // NIKE AIRMAX SNEAKERS // ALO FLARES // 7AM ENFANT SCOOTER MUFFS // CHANEL NAIL POLISH
P.S. Do you have your NYE outfit sorted?
P.P.S. “You’ll know when you find it.”
P.P.P.S. Loved the comments on this post.