In his name the nations will put their hope.
Matthew 12:21
One of the things I love about Christmas is how universal it is. Countless nations recognize Christmas in so many varying and unique ways.
Where I live, we have many traditions when it comes to Christmas. One recent tradition that is dear to my heart is the street fair ‘Christmas on de Castro Street’, which was held last weekend. What started as an opportunity to showcase local businesses has grown into a wonderful family-friendly affair.
Every year at Christmas on de Castro Street, my mom has a stall showcasing her handmade crafts such as cloth dolls and shell ornaments. I honestly think this is the highlight of my mom’s year. She thrives on the interaction and the sweet rapport she enjoys with her loyal customers. Some travel from as as far as the US and UK, asking for her by name.
 
Just as my mom and her faithful customers share a common bond, we too have something in common: the hope of Christmas. This hope is a hope that never fails. Scriptures tell us those who hope in Christ will not be disappointed (Isaiah 49:23).
I feel so honoured to spend the time leading up to Christmas looking forward to the coming Christ. I gladly join with people from all nations who put their hope in Him. I know that He will not disappoint!
Tweet ThisWhat about you? What are you looking forward to this Christmas?
About Sparkle Moments
Here at Sparkle Moments I enjoy sharing little glimpses of sparkle with you. This is where I reflect on my week and remember how awesome our God is. Consider this your weekend inspiration — that jumping off point that encourages you to enjoy a weekend that sparkles!
What is a Sparkle Moment?Â
- Living in the Caribbean, I am fortunate to be surrounded by amazing beauty. I get to see beautiful sunsets, bright blue skies, sparkling blue waters, and white sandy beaches, almost everyday. Enjoying God’s creation is pure SPARKLE, no matter what part of the world you live in.
- Every now and again there are those little everyday moments when something special happens. A butterfly pauses long enough for the camera shutter, a little girl dances in the rain, someone says a kind word that lifts your spirits…ahhh…SPARKLE!
- On the flip side, we have some days when there’s no sun, no shine. It’s a plain and gloomy day until we create our own sparkle.  Sometimes a pick-me-up is what we need! When we choose to add our own beauty, those moments can SPARKLE too.
Sparkle Moments come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing’s for sure, they make our hearts sing!
Share your Sparkle Moment
I’d love to hear about a moment that sparkled for you this week. Why not share your own Sparkle Moment in the comments below? Or tweet about your Sparkle Moment using the hashtag #SparkleMoment. Don’t forget to tag me @spreadtheshine so that I can follow along.
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How cool that your mom gets to showcase her work at a street fair! I love seeing what people come up with and how creative and crafty they are. And how neat that people from other countries look for her work, too! 🙂
Thanks for linking up and sharing with us!
Hi Kiki, thanks for stopping by for a visit. Yes, I think it’s pretty cool what my Mom does as well. Somehow I didn’t inherit her creative genes but seems it might have skipped a generation and gone to my daughter. 🙂 I hope you enjoy the Christmas holidays!
Ohh, I loved this! Thank you for sharing this with us!
You’re so very welcome, Tawni. I’m glad you stopped by and I hope you have a lovely Christmas holiday.
What beautiful decorations your mom makes, and what a fun tradition!
Thanks so much, Elena! I’ll be sure to give my Mom the compliment. Thanks too for stopping by. I hope you have a very special Christmas.
This is so lovely friend.
I’ve had a couple sparkle moments – one being a glorious sunrise the other morning. It was so beautiful and reminded me of just how blessed we are!
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop)
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
So nice to have you stop by, Jennifer. I love hearing about others’ sparkle moments and yours sounds lovely. Hope you have many more moments like that in the New Year.
Christmas on de Castro street sounds like so much fun! I love your idea of “sparkle moments” too. My “sparkle moment” this week was listening to my 2 year old sing Christmas songs…it puts a smile on my face every time!
What a precious ‘sparkle moment’ that was, Shea! I hope you enjoy every minute of those special times. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving some sparkle on my page. I wish you and your family have a lovely Christmas and a splendid New Year!
I love your outlook on life, Marva! I smile every time I see one of your posts! 🙂 One of my sparkle moments this week was enjoying a quiet evening with my husband, a game and a big mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and candy canes! 🙂 God bless your Christmas! <3
Hi Stefani, you are so sweet to say that — you just made my day! Oooh, your sparkle moment sounds heavenly, especially the hot chocolate, marshmallows and candy canes :-). Just kidding, time with your hubby is extra special too. I hope you enjoy your Christmas. Here’s to a New Year that sparkles!!!
Thanks for offering encouragement and words of HOPE today, friend. How beautiful that your mom can shine at that Christmas fair!
She sure does, Betsy! Thanks for stopping by, my friend. Wishing you peace and blessings for the holidays.
Hi Marva, what a lovely post. Your mother’s hand crafts are so original and beautiful, no wonder people ask by her by name. You’re so lucky to live in the Caribbean, thank you for taking me there if only in my thoughts. Merry Christmas!
Glad you enjoyed the virtual trip, Monica. Feel free to stop by any time. I’ll let my mom know that you enjoyed her crafts too! Merry Christmas!!!
Thank you for stopping by my space online. Love you sparkle moments. Ah.. today I had one with my oldest daughter bringing home her highschool letterman jacket with 1 timothy 4:12 on the back. Just a happy momma moment.. and He is always good 🙂 Blessings always! Misty
Wow, Misty, I love sparkle moments like those. I’m so glad that God gives us those little hugs to encourage our hearts. Wishing you a beautiful holiday season and a very Merry Christmas!
Love the term Sparkle moment! I can recall many through my life and they still make me smile to remember them.
That’s awesome, Kim. We need moments like that. Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you blessings for the Christmas season.