Christmastime

From derrach.blogspot.com

I don't know if you're like me or not but when Christmas is over it almost seems unbelievable, surreal, even...dissapointing. I mean, we spend a whole month building up to this ONE DAY that is still only 24 hours long like every other day. All the deco, mall rushes, carols, fights over the word 'Christmas' vs. 'Holiday,' and even our own discruntled family members to deal with...yikes! So we have all this build up, yet December 25th is still only a day long. The day starts with eagerly awakening children, thawing turkeys and maybe the admiration of a lite dusting of your favorite part of the "White Christmas" song. As the day moves on we proceed through our own version of Christmas 'rituals' until finally we sit on the edges of our beds, bellies full, wish lists checked off - or not - and a feeling of relief... "Finally, it's over" we think to ourselves, or maybe even aloud.
All that seems rather empty and worthless unless we have at center a love that can turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary one. If we don't enjoy it, if we don't treasure the family, the memories, the moments then we've just hyped up something for the kids that we don't even believe in ourselves. Christ really is the center of Christmas but what does that end up meaning to you? Does it rid your mind of the guilt you get from racking up debt? Does it ease the stress of waiting in line for the perfect gift? Does it really do anything to make the day different? If you're like me - and we all hope & pray you're not too similar - you want to know that Christ is there for more than just his "Birthday Party." After the hustle and bustle I'm here to say that this love that equated to the Son of God coming to a manger as a messy little newborn baby still rings true on December 26th. I hope it does for you and I hope your holiday ruckus hasn't left you with the empty, "was that it" feeling that so many are getting over today. May God bless your December 26th, 27th...new year and all the days of this mysterious thing we call life.