January 1: Lagniappe

A word from Curt

The following story, about King George VI and his famous Christmas message and poem to the British people during the darkest days of the War. Scroll down to read this remarkable story

 

January 1

Lagniappe

A New Year

 This is the final post from our book, Christmas Jelly.

We’ve enjoyed visiting with you during the previous month.  We’ll continue blogging this week about having a life plan for the New Year.

 

Our wonderful Cajun culture has a unique word. Lagniappe.

 

It means something extra, and goes back to the rural tradition of shop owners giving faithful customers a little something extra as appreciation for their business.

Lagniappe. It’s a good word.

It’s a New Year.

We’ve woke up alive.

This is a new day.

It’s Lagniappe.

 

It’s a new start

A special gift.

Lagniappe.

 

Enjoy it.

Suck the life out of it.

Squeeze out every drop.

Enjoy your lagniappe.

 

 

It’s a New Year.

 

Being a writer, I always equate the first day of a new year with the blank pages in a new journal. As I open the notebook and leaf through its empty pages, the potential for what will be written and recorded there is limitless.

Being a journal keeper for nearly forty years has taught me several things. Some of this year’s entries will be sad and painful. Others will be joyous and funny. That is the nature of life.

As the world enters this new year, the pages are blank and no human knows what this year holds. Never in my adult life have I seen such uncertainty and concern. From war and confusion in all corners of the world to an economic meltdown that has shaken the confidence of many, we face uncertain days ahead.

The year 1939 was much like that . . . especially in Europe. War had commenced with the German invasion of Poland and subsequent involvement of most of the continent’s nations.

In England, the days were especially dark. In was in this bleak time at Christmas 1939 that King George VI made his annual Christmas message to the British people.

He quoted from a familiar poem by Minnie Haskins entitled “The Gate of the Year.”

“I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year,

“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied, “Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way”

The King’s appropriate use of this inspiring poem stirred the British people, as it still stirs us over a half-century later.

It’s a good poem as we enter an uncertain new year.

God is in control.

There is no panic in heaven.

As long as we hold onto his hand and follow his guidance, we’ll be all right.

 

“ . . .My God shall supply all of your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 comments

  1. “The Gate of the Yearr” was given to me by Mom who shared so many poems and thoughts with me. “Thanks for the memories.”

    Honeysuckles and Mrs. Andrews was so wonderful! Now I have to find and transplant a pink honeysuckle! Blessings to you and DeDe!

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