Let Me Tell You Now About the Magic of Christmas!
They called us ‘The Convent Kids’
20 children from “that Children’s Home”.
Some, orphans.
Some, abandoned.
Some, abused-and-rescued.
Some, whose single parents were simply struggling to just survive.
You’d think we had nothing.
But, to us, we had everything!
70 acres of luscious Hertfordshire countryside to run around in.
Our own farm; a moated-island; orchards; a small river; a spinney; endless parquet-floored corridors.
And those seriously-bright, strong-willed, talented nuns providing a haven of safety, security and certainty-amidst-chaos.
Then there was Christmas!
Seemingly always snowing.
Those endless corridors and chapels and church knaves exploding with magical candlelight.
Soaring, hypnotic voices of 100 nuns wrapping harmonious Christmas carols around your heart.
But most glorious of all was the Sunday morning when Mum arrived.
Mum, accompanied by that ridiculously-good-looking Uncle Roger (eventually my beloved ‘Daddy’).
She’d collect us, in time to transport us to Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve in South London.
Christmas Eve in that drafty, rickety flat in that tall, shabby 3-storey London house.
For us… a place of Sheer Magic!
Mum tucking us in at night, while reading ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’.
Looking at each other sleepily… knowing – just knowing – that we’d hear the clattering hooves of those 8 tiny reindeer tonight.
Cracking Brazil and hazel nuts in front of that mesmerising coal fire.
Surrounded by piles of twice-read comics and books.
Watching Fred Astaire gliding across the black-and-white screen on our posh new television.
Christmas Day with our tearful, exhausted Mum loading the table with her blissfully Jamaican version of a full-blown Christmas Lunch.
Hosting those relatives popping by with little gifts and large appetites.
Smothering us with kisses at every opportunity.
Our physical presents were few.
Mum’s presence was everything.
For we instinctively knew that each Christmas homecoming cost her all that she had.
We were used to seeing her counties shillings and pennies on the bedspread, when she thought we weren’t looking.
You might think that life was tough for us Convent Kids.
But, when my sister, my cousin and I talk about it…
we become animated and breathless with retelling those stories!
Looking back, we were the lucky ones!
We KNEW that we were LOVED.
Surrounded with it!
Which is why today, Wendy and I consider ourselves richly blessed.
We’ve chosen to surround ourselves with people who live in such a way…
That they constantly bring Light and Love to others.
And so, we send our greetings to you… your colleagues… your team.
Wendy and I.
Our Soul Millionaire Team of Helpers.
Our Soul Millionaire Tribe of Clients.
And with our greetings… The Question.
The Question that asks…
“Who Will Be Blessed by Your Team’s Light and Love In These Days Leading Towards Christmas?”
