In the aftermath of the Holidays, we often have mixed emotions. There is excitement at the prospect of a New Year but sadness that the joyous Christmas season has passed. The tree we so carefully selected from hundreds of others has been discarded to either dry and turn brown or if artificial, stuffed in a box and stored till next year. The new gifts received are integrated with the old and there is hardly a trace of Christmas expression. But be of good cheer - soon the credit card bills will arrive and remind you of your generosity and good will.
Let me encourage you to continue in the joyous celebration of Christmas all year long. Christmas is not over. The true joy of Christmas is in the truth that Jesus was born and that He still lives. I have always believed that the Christmas celebration should begin on December 26 and continue through December 25. Now that’s a marketing concept the merchants should go for. The Christmas season should be continuous because the Savior born in Bethlehem still saves today. Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas. I can’t see any reason why His birth should not be proclaimed all year long.
The real sadness in the passing of Christmas comes from the fact that we spent more time with family and friends at Christmas and when everyone went home it left an emptiness behind. The answer is obvious - visit more often! The cookie and eggnog recipes work every time you mix the ingredients together, not just in November and December. If your family is far away and you cannot visit as often as you like spend more time with your church family and friends. The warmth and love of the holiday season should not be packed away with the decorations. The joy of Christmas needn’t be traded for the mundane rigors of keeping pace with the world. Even the Christmas music doesn’t have to be stored away for a year. Songs that proclaim the birth of our Lord should be sung often. “Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”
Among your New Year’s resolutions resolve to keep the spirit of Christmas all year long. Celebrate the joy, the love and the fellowship enjoyed at Christmas time every day. Even a small gift for someone you love would be in order anytime of the year.
