Is Christmas over when nothing is left under the tree?

We wake up with excitement for the gifts we are going to receive, the gifts we're going to give, and hopefully for those we will be with.  We rush downstairs and the most traditional tradition begins!  Someone, usually the one most excited about getting, is appointed, or self appointed, to pass out the gifts. 

When the most anticipated event is finished and scattered across the floor and nothing is left under the tree...then what?

Is Christmas over?  

Sadly, for many, maybe even most, this is what Christmas is about.  Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate the items I receive! I used my shiny new french press as soon as I could! 

And, I love giving presents and seeing the expressions that loved ones make. It's all great but is Christmas over after all of this?  I argue that no it is not over, on the contrary, it has just begun.

How happy are we to get all the hectic shopping done?!  It sure is nice when the stress of the most wonderful time of the year is over. 

Is it all worth it?  

The biggest question: Does it celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior?

Sure, the reason we give gifts is because He gave the greatest gift of all, but let's be real.  Is that how you would want your birthday celebrated?

I and my dad visited a friend in the hospital after we were done "celebrating Christ".  Our friend had been in a hospital bed for a week now hardly able to walk due to a leg problem and multiple surgeries.  And now, on Christmas day, in his comfortable hospital bed next to a cozy fire place (there was no fire), he wasn't complaining or telling us how he wished he was at home.  He wasn't saying, "woe is me".  Actually, he was saying the opposite of what one would expect from a person in a hospital on Christmas. He said, "This has been the best Christmas".  He was thanking God that because of his pain and hospital stay many of his family members were visiting him.  He recognized that he was able to be a testimony to them of how great God is. To him there is no reason to complain because he knows God is doing something and has a purpose for it all.  So, he rejoices! 

Back to my original question: Is Christmas over for you when everything under the tree has been scattered across the floor?  Is that all that it's about?  Even when we give the "greatest presents" in love, the awe of them will quickly wear off, and the material things will wear out.  So, don't let Christmas be over when the base of the tree is visible again.  Re-gift the greatest gift that has ever been given; LOVE.

John 3:16 , "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...". Not to be cliché, but it truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

Following Grandpas Footsteps

        Down a Missouri back road, about a mile from Stockton lake is my grandpas     farm. ​I had been to grandpa’s farm before and toured it to an extent, but since I was last there he had bought neighboring acreage so there was new territory to explore!

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  We set out Wednesday afternoon venturing through gates, woods, and creeks. One must be careful when trekking across this unfamiliar terrain. I made it a point to follow in grandpa’s footsteps and when doing so, it gave me security because I didn't have to look down at where I was stepping as often and could look up and enjoy the scenery.

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  This got me thinking about my walk with God because more often than not, I do not know where God wants me to walk. And, if I do know God’s direction for me, I’m unaware of the obstacles I will face along the way. So, it's much simpler to follow God’s footsteps because in my humanity, I wouldn't understand how I could reach the point he wanted me to due to all the obstacles I would face along the way. Walking with God is just as simple as walking with grandpa and trusting his leading.  (Matthew 4:19 "Follow me") 

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  Later in the week I visited my grandpa on my mom’s side of the family. His farm too is down a gravel back road of Missouri. Throughout my younger years, I've spent more time with this grandpa and have naturally drawn closer to him.  And, he's lived on the same farm all of my life, so I am very familiar with this land having spent a lot of time there. It's a place I can vividly see in my imagination and tell stories of certain meaningful locations. I’ve laughed there, played, cried and discovered.  There are many memories in grandpa’s shop of me tinkering with wood scraps and attempting to build miniature models of the high quality cabinets I'd seen him build for years. 

               

  Even though I'd spent more time on this farm and grew to know it better, it would still be foolish of me to go out by myself and try to find my way around, especially when I could have my grandpa, who I want to spend time with anyway, with me who’s lived on the farm 20 plus years and knows his land.

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  No matter how familiar I get with the path I'm walking on, my heart still desires to be walking with God.  When walking with him, the path ahead may not always be an easy one, but if he walks before me I know everything I face along the way is for a reason. Obstacles along the way won't defeat me, because it’s not just me in this journey, It’s “we”, God and I. 

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    It's always much simpler for me to understand the things of God in a physical aspect, He of course knows this which is why he robed himself in flesh and dwelt among us so we could understand him and he could understand what we face. (John 1:14)

 ​He wants to dwell in us and direct our paths.    (John 6:56 He that eateth of my flesh, and drinketh of my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him)

               

  I'm going to continue physically walking in my grandpas footsteps and spiritually walking in The Lord's.