Day 13 - { christmas }

Another Christmas post - I don't want it to be over yet! :)

I am so grateful for the celebration of Christmas and for the joys it brings! I know I am a bit late with this, but I thought I could follow the tradition of celebrating Christmas until Epiphany. :)

I want to share with you my absolutely favorite scene from any Christmas movie is 17 minutes into "Mr Krueger's Christmas." It makes me cry every single time.

Meridian Magazine interviewed Director Kieth Merrill about the making of this movie a while back, and I loved reading what he said about filming that particular scene:

Following the rehearsal of the scene where Mr. Krueger visits the manger and pays homage to the Christ Child Jimmy pulled me aside and said, “I need to do this in one take.”

He had certainly proven his ability to nail a scene in one take, but on our low budget I only had one camera and I needed coverage to make the scene work. Cinema 101. Wide. Medium. Close Up. I tried to explain. Then, in that private moment, he shared his feelings for the Savior in a way that in our Mormon tradition was akin to bearing testimony:

"For me this scene and these words are very personal and very real and I will  not be able to do it twice."

I am confident in telling you that Mr. Krueger’s emotions as he kneels and talks to the Babe in the manger reflect in reality the feelings of James Stewart toward the Lord, Jesus Christ. The reverence for the Savior of the World so beautifully manifested by Mr. Krueger was a genuine sentiment for this marvelous actor. . . .

 

 

 

Take 4 minutes and watch this--it is so uplifting! (drag the button over to start at 17:00').

Lo, I am with you always.

You promised that,

and when I realized it was true

my soul flared up.

Any unhappiness comes

from forgetting.

-Rumi

 

Blessed be the birth of our Truest Friend and Savior, Jesus Christ! He is always near us.

He came to earth not only to save us, but to understand us completely. When I can remember that, I feel peace.

 

Sources:

Wikipedia

Meridian Magazine

Joseph Brickey, "Journey to Bethlehem"

Liz Lemon Swindle, "Be It Unto Me"