This song of one man who decided to care for one other, cut through the morass of modern media’s detailing of difficulties that had weighed me down.  The king delt with danger, discomfort, and a helper who needed help, yet the end result was blessing. The song describes the age-old idea of one person caring, and figuring out a way to help one other.  The song is remarkable because that one passionate person was a king, who could have easily ignored a peasant’s need, yet he went himself, not waiting even for morning. This carol’s king ultimately reminds me of the King of all kings, who himself came to help us all.

My oil painting of “Good King Wenceslas” is reproduced on my Christmas card this year. You can find it in my aspenshimmers web site store.

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas season is a rich one for me. My grandmother’s story of “Shoes for the Santo Niño” premiered in New Mexico as an opera for children.

A historic legend of the Santo Niño from Atocha, Spain told of men imprisoned because of their faith, who were permitted to eat only the food brought by their families. When a caliph ordered that only children twelve years old and younger were allowed to deliver the food, these children noticed that the prisoners were being fed by a young boy they did not know. Those who had asked the Virgin de Atocha for a miracle began to suspect the identity of the little boy. The touching story of the Santo Niño depicts the mysterious love that intervenes to save individuals trapped in need and suffering.

When I was a child, I was shocked to find a peppermint abandoned and lying in the snow. A peppermint was a rare gift I would not have thought of dropping. So too did the Santo Niño de Atocha represent an extraordinary treasure. My painting of the peppermint reminds me of treasures we pass by in our rush to get on with life, and the legend of the Santa Niño reminds me to take time to care.