The door is on the latch tonight,
The hearth-fire is aglow,
I seem to hear soft passing feet—
The Christ child in the snow.
My heart is open wide tonight
For stranger, kith or kin;
I would not bar a single door
Where love might enter in.
—Kate Douglas Wiggin, from "The Romance of a Christmas Card"
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[The word "Advent" comes from the Latin adventus, which means "coming." In the Christian church Advent is that period of expectant waiting leading up to the Nativity of Jesus. Some prefer to think of it as a "Countdown to Christmas." If you've ever had an Advent calendar, you know that each day prior to Christmas has it own window, usually hidden behind a little flap or door, behind which is a scene or verse from the Scriptures. I thought it would be fun to take that idea and post a daily photo with a bit of text below—a stanza or two from a Christmas poem or a few lines of prose from a favorite Christmas story. The photos aren't intended to be tied with the text. Some are just ones I meant to run with a post this past year, but for whatever reason, didn't. To set these posts apart from my regular—or irregular!—ones, I've given them a different typeface and look.]
20 comments:
A poem of few words, but so much comforting emotion it imparts. I love photos of beautiful doors. Is this the door to your cottage, that our friend Gail wanted to see? It has the porch and rocker!
I like this verse very much.
Your front porch?
HI GRIZZ-
Oh my the image is so lovely - and the words of welcome and openness are so heartfelt. Our candles are lit in the windows lighting the way. The promise is renewed this season and your Advent sharing is honorable and true. "Thank you Grizz".
Love Gail
peace.....
Wanda…
It is my "front" door, actually located on the side of the cottage about 10 feet from the river (counting the slope down to the water.) The front corner of the cottage itself is located about a foot beyond the left-hand side of the image. Another 6x32 ft. deck runs at a right angle to this one, across the front, parallel to the river.
Most of the side deck you do see , which is 10X24 ft. is located to the right of the image—with the other rocker and a small table, plus the window where I look out during breakfast and watch the yard and feeders.
Bobbie…
So do I…it's just a nice, old-fashioned verse that pretty much sums everything up.
Giggles…
My front/side porch. The door to the humble castle. Of course I forgot to turn on the inside Christmas lights which surround the door behind the windows…
Gail…
Thank YOU, Gail, for your joy of these small posts. I'm delighted by your daily enthusiasm.
Take care…
Very nice and inviting....
Giggles…
As good a place as a man (or woman) could want to laze away the hours listening to the river and watching birds. Why, I would likely be out there right this very moment, lazing and listening and looking…except that I have SO MUCH! to do, it's cloudy and cold and damp, and I'm still hacking and feeling lower than a duck's belly.
But the urge—and porch—is there, nevertheless.
Lovely Scribe. How is that river of yours - any snow on its banks yet?
Weaver…
Nope, no snow…yet. Yesterday was 55˚F; today, twenty degrees colder, cloudy, windy, damp, plus the river is up (must have rained upstream recently) and discolored. Not Chirstmassy looking, though.
Seeing as I have so much new found time on my hands.... I could help you out with that!!!! (Would/could very probably be the solution to my relentless type A personality!!)
Giggle…
A riverbank cookfeast and full-yelp celebration would surely cure what ails you for some time to come…
Your front porch with rocking chair and wreath on the door looks so inviting just as your chosen poem.....:-) Hugs
What a beautiful door you have. The brown door against the pretty light stone looks so strong in foundation, yet rustic and so inviting and comforting...kind of like you, I imagine. I bet you have spent many a day sitting in your chair enjoying the view of the river.
I love this part of Ms. Wiggin's words, "My heart is open wide tonight For stranger, kith or kin; I would not bar a single door Where love might enter in."
Beautiful words to live by. Thank you again for your lovely post :)
Have a wonderful day, Scribe :))
Bernie…
It is inviting, though not so warm today. But a nice place to sit and watch time and the river pass by…
Kelly (CG)…
That would be some chunky (like me) blocks of Indiana limestone; a door of sun-bleached (like me) wood, which could (like me) use some sanding around the raised-grain rough edges, a good varnishing (like me), and perhaps a rehanging (like me) to straighten from effects of pounding, swinging, slamming, and gravity.
I'd say that was a very astute call on your part…
And, yes, that chair is quite—some would say, overly—tempting.
Finally…you have found the very heart of this poem, and in all seriousness, the abiding philosophy of the way I try to live my life. There's nothing I'd rather have said of me than "he always had an open door and an open heart."
You've put a smile on my face, Scribe. Thank you :)
Have a Wonderful Day!
Kelly (CG)…
I'm trying—honest!
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