Join in our chime
May 2015 bring you clearing skies and warming weather.
Photo by Daniel Schwen via Magdeleine
And ye, who have met with Adversity’s blast,
And been bow’d to the earth by its fury;
To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently pass’d
Were as harsh as a prejudiced jury –
Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime,
The regrets of remembrance to cozen,
And having obtained a New Trial of Time,
Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.
— Thomas Hood
If anyone who reads this readily identifies with the poet’s words, my heart is with you. Adversity’s blast has hit our family hard each year since 2012, and sometimes we wonder whether harsh news will ever stop coming.
Still, we continue to rejoice in all that is good, right, holy and beautiful, and we are ever hopeful that the year to come will bring lighter hearts and soothing respite from sorrow.
Though 2014 brought seemingly more than its share of trials, we are able to look back and see moments that sparkle and joys that glow even in the dark. We hope you are able to do the same. May 2015 bring showers of blessings to you and your loved ones!
Here’s a New Year’s card for you; read the details at the end to learn about the “first footing” custom.
This post was first published seven years ago today. The original post, comments and photo are linked, along with two other related posts, below. These links to related posts, and their thumbnail photos, do not appear in the blog feed; they are only visible when viewing the individual posts by clicking on each one. I have no idea why, nor do I know how they choose the related posts. That’s just the way WordPress does things.
- Posted in: Uncategorized
- Tagged: celebration, courage, faith, future, good wishes, hope, January 1, months, New Year's Day, opportunities, outlook, resolution, year
Defeat Despair 
I liked reading about the first footing custom. It was a little disappointing that a little old white haired lady cruising the threshold carrying kumquats would not be considered auspicious. I guess I should give those dark haired men a chance to arrive….
Happy New Year to you and Matt! Did you send him out with coal, shortbread, salt, black bun a wee dram of whisky, and specific instructions to come right back in?? Heh heh – I am just imagining that; he is such a good sport that I’m sure he’d be happy to do it.
Susan, you are right about Matt being a good sport. I can tell you’ve spent time with him! Maybe we can see you again sometime this year. I need to go back and read about the First Footing again, because I’ve forgotten some of those details in the seven years that have passed since I first posted that! I hope your 2022 is going well. I can’t believe that January is almost over already!