Cover of Giorgie’s Christmas Dinner
Giorgie’s Christmas Dinner
Giorgie’s Christmas Dinner the second book in The Spiritual Heritage for Children Series is progressing well, with illustrations finalised and approved.
It is with deep gratitude I acknowledge the assistance of Arts Queensland and the North Burnett Regional Council for the RADF Grant which has made the publication of this book possible.
Inspiration for the story came from a conversation with a friend, who relayed his daughter Giorgie’s dismay at the thought of the farm rooster becoming the family dinner.
In past generations, more people were born and bred on rural properties and the life and death of farm animals, and the wild life around was just part of nature. The connection between all that lived was observed and acknowledged as normal. The land provided for the needs of all – birds, animals, reptiles and people. It was all about the survival of each species.
Many of our children are disconnected
Many of today’s generation of children are disconnected from nature and life lived closely connected to the land. Often they are unaware of the source of the food they eat, with no perception of the web of life, or the interconnection with all that lives.
Giorgie’s Christmas Dinner was written to bring this interconnection into their awareness with the story of a rowdy and arrogant rooster, who rules the farmyard. His actions become a problem when he starts chasing the farm animals.
Giorgie overheard her Dad talking on the phone a few nights ago, saying Mr Rooster would be Christmas Dinner this year. He was afraid of the harm he could do to the children.
Christmas is only two days away and Giorgie is dreaming of the presents she hopes to get.
The Christmas tree has been standing in the lounge room since the beginning of December, slowly gathering presents. Excitement was building! Last night, Giorgie was so excited she couldn’t get to sleep until her Angel friend, Astara and some other angels came and sang to her.
Astara and her friends sing to Giorgie.
Breakfast is over and Giorgie is taking kitchen scraps to the hens and chickens. She is still dreaming of Christmas day and all the presents under the tree – wondering what’s in them and which ones will be hers.
Grandparents. Aunts, Uncles and cousins visit for the day bringing more presents. Everyone has such fun with heaps of games. Christmas is her favourite day of the year. Giorgie is not being mindful of Mr Rooster as she is lost in her daydreams.
Skipping around the end of the barn, she comes unexpectedly face to face with Mr Rooster! The bucket full of kitchen scraps flew from her hands and fear galvanises her into action. In the blink of an eye, she finds herself in the safety of a tree nearby.
Giorgie feels sad for Mr Rooster as she sits looking down on him with his family – which feels kind of weird, as she’s very afraid of him.
Mr Rooster is on the warpath!
To be continued…
