Clues of Christmas Past

The holidays are over. The tree has been taken down, its pine needles devoured by your vacuum and discarded like an old used rag down at the curb to be snatched up by men who wear big fat gloves. Or maybe you allow your dead tree to be a place of refuge for the birds and backyard critters for the remainder of this winter, tucked away in the far, hard to see corner of your fence. Or maybe your tree is artificial, and its decoration is now a somber plastic bag, tightly tucked away in a dark, web-laced corner of your basement or garage. Boxes of decorations, gingerly wrapped and packed, properly marked, have been safely put away to hibernate another year.

The gifts so carefully chosen by loved ones have been taken back, worn, spent, or put away for future use. The empty boxes that enthralled the children for days after Christmas have been replaced by the new toys they received. Children are relearning your household rules after a few precious days of blissful indulgences with Grandparents. Thank you notes have been written, signed, sealed and swallowed up by the post box. We wish we could bottle and cap the sweet memories to savor them again in mid-July.

Grandma’s over sized roasting pan has been scrubbed and put under the bed anticipating the size of that next large bird to be sacrificed. All of your regal china and silver have been replaced by your common, but hearty stoneware and flatware. You have cleaned the refrigerator of all the stuff that turned black and anything that is green and hairy, along with the unrecognizable liquids pooling in the vegetable bin.

Dial soap is put to use for soaping the zipper of your now too-tight jeans, while you lay prostrate on the bed, hoping to be able to stand up, breath and walk properly once this secret deed is done. You remove the old, but faithful bathroom scale from its holiday hiding place, blow the dust off and take it back to its proper post, to remind you daily of all those delectable, holiday nibbles. You have cleaned the house and swear you will never again buy spray snow for your windows, no matter how charmingly Hallmark-y you think it will look.

The rushing, frenzied pace of the last few months are over. Vacations are over. Visits made bittersweet with last goodbyes, were sealed with hugs and kisses. It is back to everyday business, as usual. You look all around you, and perhaps there are no apparent signs or clues of Christmas past.

And you wonder...What have I gained or gleaned or grasped from these past few months?

My prayer is that you will bring into this New Year, a deeper, sweeter awareness and knowledge of whom Jesus Christ is, and a more intimate, daily relationship with Him. Take away all the decorations, the gifts, the food, the dinnerware, the visits, and the busyness. Take away all that the world tells you are necessary for a great Christmas and be reminded of the place of a lowly manger and follow the life of Christ to His bare, blood stained cross of love and redemption, and a grave that could not hold the resurrected Christ. Just for you, just for me. Take these precious gifts, His birth, His death and His resurrection; His gifts to us, and allow them to have a prominent place in your minds, hearts and homes. Display them with all glory and honor given to Him, in all that you think, speak, do and plan. Taste them and see that they are good. Savor and enjoy them. Take delight in Him because He delights in you.

Happy New Year



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