Is Christmas Over?

Merry Christmas to all of you and a Happy New Year to all!

Yesterday as I was shoveling out from the blizzard snow storm we had here, I was trying to find places to throw the snow. Things are pretty tight by the driveway near the garage and about the only place to throw the snow was on top of the already covered nativity scene. The snow drifts were already covering the characters up to their heads anyway.

While I was shoveling, I got to thinking about how it seems Christmas is over already. The gifts have mostly all been exchanged. We are moving on with getting back to matters at hand (like shoveling snow). I thought about Christmas day. Had I been thinking about what Christmas was truly about on Christmas day or was I just caught up in the festivities and time together with others? And now, even the christian radio station has stopped playing Christmas songs.

Then I got back to thinking about how I was covering the nativity with snow. Am I being too quick to cover over Christmas and move on? Do we all try to "cover over" Christmas and move on too quickly?

I thought back to years ago when we had a pastor who always emphasized how Advent was the time leading up to Christmas and then when the Christmas season came on Christmas day it would last for a while. In recent years, especially with commercialism, Christmas is pushed to start before thanksgiving and ends about noon on Christmas day!

I remember how our mom and dad would take us around to visit relatives in the time after Christmas day. We would spend time with cousins, Aunts, and Uncles. Christmas lasted for days.

Some would say that Christmas should be in our hearts all year long. That's a good thought. So, let's not be so quick to move on. Let's take time to languish in the moment. I just watched a video about Mary, Joseph and the baby that a friend posted on facebook. After Jesus is born, the shepherds and wise men visit. And then, they just stay. They stay in quietness and spend time in the presence of the baby.

Christmas isn't over, let's remain here a bit.

Are you still celebrating Christmas? Please comment!

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