Early on in my favorite Christmas book, the main character (the Grinch) says these words: “I must find some way to stop Christmas from coming!” Soon after, he hatches a devilish scheme to steal all teh presents and trappings from the Whos down in Whoville.
Well… now the holiday has passed. Now what? It’s not quite the new year. We’re stuck in that limbo period between Christmas, 2024, and January 1, 2025. Basically, for the next week, this is my mantra:
“I must find someway to keep Christmas from going!”
Alas, the music is done, the food is eaten, and the presents are opened. It’s back to the doldrums of life. Back to the malaise. Back to the madness. Back to the grind. Back to the short tempers, foul moods, and cross glances.
Except… no, it doesn’t have to be like that. Who says we have to stop being nice to each other just because the holiday music is no longer playing? Who says we have to stop offering goodwill tidings to each other just because the odds we’ll get a slice of roast beast out of it has dropped exponentially? Why must the “season of cheer” ever end? If you’ll permit me an eye-rollingly bad cliche…
Jesus is the reason for EVERY season.
Christmas is over. Christianity is not. Peace and earth and goodwill toward men remains the clarion call of God’s people, every day of the year. Now, more than ever, is the time to be charitable, forgiving, and kind, because now, in the post-holiday time, people around us will STOP being those things, giving us the golden opportunity to stand out like lights in the darkness.
Go shine, Christian!
~Matthew