Continuing the Celebration

            It’s that time of year. The Christmas trees lay at the curb, toppled to their side, awaiting pickup. The few stray strands of tinsel wave in the cold January wind. Inside homes every trace of Christmas has been boxed and neatly packed away for another year. The cookies we’ve eaten are now part of the reason for the resolution we’ve made. The mailbox once filled with greeting cards and letters is now filled with bills. The gifts that held brightly wrapped secrets have all been opened and used or returned. The events of the season have now become another Christmas Past. With a turn of the calendar the celebration has ceased.
            January enters and the cold nights seem longer now that they aren’t lit by candles and Christmas lights.  The snowflakes that once added charm become a burden to remove. Friends and family gather less often.  It’s no wonder so many of us experience the blues.
            Anyone who knows me, even ever so slightly, will tell you that I LOVE Christmas. My kids have even nicknamed me “Mother Christmas”.  I go all out in celebrating Christmas.  Every room of our home (yes, even the bathrooms) is filled with Christmas from the day after Thanksgiving through January 2nd. What’s not to celebrate? We received the greatest gift over two thousand years ago in that stable in Bethlehem. Therefore, it doesn’t seem strange to me to celebrate and throw a six week long birthday party.
            As I was packing up the remnants of this party I started thinking about it. Why does the celebration have to end? I’m not talking about being one of those people who leave the tree and lights up year round. What I am talking about it continuing the celebration in other ways. Do we really need a decorated house and tree to gather near to spend time with friends and family? Can we only show charity and kindness to others when someone is ringing a bell near a red kettle? Do the barrels for food pantries disappear in January? Must every gift we give be wrapped in shiny paper? Can’t our homes be warm and welcoming the entire year?
            This year as you pack away the ornaments and resolve to hit the gym let me encourage you to make one more resolution. Continue the celebration! The reason we celebrate is not seasonal so why should the celebration be confined to a few weeks in December? Purpose each day to celebrate. Be creative and find ways to celebrate and honor the gift we’ve received.  Serve the One we celebrate by loving others and serving others.  Be grateful for the gift each and every day of the year.  Learn more about Him by reading His Word, praying and worshipping Him.
Charles Dickens said of Ebenezer Scrooge, “it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.  May that be truly said of us, and all of us!”
God bless us, everyone!
Leslie
   

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