Keeping Christmas

I recall some time ago someone  telling me the story of a relative of theirs that would begin the process of taking down their Christmas decorations on the afternoon of Christmas Day.  While that does not happen at our house,  I am sure that some of you are already doing a similar thing- taking down your Christmas decorations, putting your Christmas gifts in their respective places.  Soon, our homes and neighborhoods will be void of the bright lights and decorations that brought a twinkle to our eyes just a few days ago. 

While there will come a time when we will put our decorations in their respective storage places and find a place for the gifts we receive,  I encourage you to carefully consider not putting the center of Christmas, Christ Jesus, away in the corner of the closet or in the attic.  The best of Christmas is God with us, Emmanuel, Christ Jesus.    Lord knows we need Christ in our world more than ever before.     I don’t know about you, but I think we need to keep Christmas at its best in our world and lives all the time. 

Peter Marshall was a Presbyterian pastor in another day and age in Washington DC.  He puts it this way about Christmas:    "May we not 'spend' Christmas or 'observe' Christmas, but rather 'keep' it."

As we read the story of the birth of Jesus in Lukes gospel, we read this verse in Luke 2:19 these words:

¹⁹ However, Mary continued to treasure all these things in her heart and to ponder them.

I  want to ponder and treasure the best of Christmas too.  How about you?  Amen.  Let it be, Lord.  Let it be.   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:  Lord, we thank you for the precious gift of yourself at Christmas in your son and Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord.   Give us the wisdom to allow Christ to be a part of our world the whole year through;  through Christ our Lord.  Amen.