Now that you’ve had a sample month of 2023, what do you think? I’ve enjoyed the first 31 days of the new year, but I already have a confession to make. My Christmas tree, nativity collection, and my multitude of Christmas decorations are all still up…and I’m not one bit bothered. That’s likely very shocking to my family and friends who know me well.

Matter of fact, I am still turning on the Christmas tree lights first thing every morning, and they’re the last thing I turn off before going to bed. In between, I often take a cup of coffee into the living room, sit in the glow of the tree, and savor the beauty that exists in my favorite space. With a less frantic pace than December, I can take my time to enjoy the benefits of my hard work at putting everything together. I’m also just not ready to close down Christmas and let go of peppermint sticks in hot chocolate and back-to-back Christmas movies.

Maybe it’s a good thing to hold on to Christmas for as long as we can…to abide in Emmanual, God with us…to appreciate the love of our families beyond the gift-giving…to concentrate on the miracle that the baby in the manger is now the risen Savior. I believe we need Christmas now as much as we did in December.

For Mary and Joseph Christmas continued beyond the birth of Jesus. They had an after Christmas task–getting Jesus circumcised. Luke 2: 27b-32 “…when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” And, Mary and Joseph also had the visit of the Wise Men in the days after Jesus’s birth. Their time of praising God for the baby Jesus was not over for a while. Should we maybe think how we can do the same?

Maybe we need an after-Christmas tradition with our families that includes a time of praise and worship. What if we had a family get-together and shared memories and even scrapbooked together? What if we chose a charity to help now when the Christmas attention has moved to other interests for donors? What if we took an extra Saturday afternoon to have a play day and enjoy our family? When Russ and I did group foster care, we had an evening of helping the children write thank you letters and cards for their Christmas gifts. How many families take the time to do that? That’s a tradition well worth beginning.

I know that February 1 is late for my Christmas decorations to still be up. Yet, I’m so happy to wish you a Merry After Christmas.  Afterall, Easter is in sight! Remember that it is never too late to relight the candles, play carols, and praise the Lord for His grace and love. Take time for the Christmas afterglow!

Maybe Mary’s attitude could rub off on us—Luke 2:19 “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

MAKING IT PERSONAL

What is something about Christmas 2022 that was so special that it’s still on your mind?