That’s the way Christmas feels these days, lonely, quick, gone too soon.
Tonight is a whisper, tomorrow will be loud, and then…
it’s over and Christmas is wrapping paper that is so easily thrown out.
The nativity’s go back in their boxes, the tree to the curb, and my heart? It feels lost in all the motion of the season.
I want it all to last. The lights and the trees and the feeling and the peppermint mochas and the manger. Christmas is red and January is blue, and I’m already feeling sad.
How can I hold onto Christmas? How can I live Christmas?
I think this…
4 Simple Ways to Hold onto Christmas
The Nativity Stays
I have a thing for nativities, and at Christmas I put out four nativity sets. This year, I will tuck three gently away, but one will stay, all year long.
The Meaning of Christmas Will be Framed
These words will be put in a frame in my dining room:
“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
I Will Serve
I will use this Christmas countdown as a reminder and guide and pick two “serves” a month that I can do with my family. I will do this because…
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
A Candle is Lit Each Week
A Candle lit, because all year is advent, all year, all the years and the hours we wait. Let us not forget that there will come a day that His Light will shine before all men, and all will bow, and all will be made right.
Have a beautiful Christmas eve, friends, and a beautiful year of Christmas.
…
Photo Credit: DaySpring Come Let Us Adore Him Nativity Set
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I’m on board…love this!! I too am going to keep the nativity up all year (not sure where just yet but I will find a place)
I also like the idea of specifically lighting a candle each week with the reminder….I may even keep the advent candle wreath up but simply change candle out with the seasons….the meaning is still there. 😉
Thanks for this post! I think the same…in fact after some years, I’ve almost deadened my heart to the disappointment. But, as I hear you saying…it’s our focus that’s off. We continue to focus on the TRUE GIFT and being conduits of the love of that gift to others. That’s what Christmas is about…(Charlie Brown)…
I think also that our hearts long for the coming revelation of our LORD…His return. Just as in the days of old as the Jews waited for Messiah, we too wait to see His face…and know (beyond any doubt) the great love that He has given us…Just because…He is. <3
thank you. This was simply lovely.
May the Love of Christ FILL your home today, and always.
What a beautiful way to celebrate Jesus’ birth year-round … we too have decided to continue on with our Advent activities beyond Christmas!
Thank you ! Love keeping this all year!
I love the candle idea…we do this in my house already, and the flame is a perfect reminder 🙂
I totally agree with everything! I’ve heard sermons and read bog posts and even seen a few (2) commercials about giving Christmas away to others. It’s about helping the less fortunate, poor, sick, etc. I must say I like it.
This year hubby and I adopted a Salvation Army child and bought a few items for the little one. It was fun. Wish I could be there to see him open the gifts–and the look of thanks on the parents’ face.
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I’ve also blogged a lot about Christmas coming way way way to soon. People don’t even let Thanksgiving happen before you hear buy, buy, buy–get, get, get! I’m tired of all that hoopla! Let’s vow to remember Christmas all year!
I leave my Nativity set up year round as well as a Names of the Savior sign. This year I am adding the service idea you mentioned. Great plan! Merry Christmas!!
“The nativity’s go back in their boxes, the tree to the curb, and my heart? It feels lost in all the motion of the season.” my heart relates sarah mae.. and i love the idea of a little reminder. i think i will pick something to keep up throughout the year as well….thank you for sharing! –kris
Thank you. Tonight I was just thinking how empty I felt now. The gifts given, meals eaten…and I have been thinking on how to change how we celebrate. This was good and timely for me.
Usually Christmas comes and goes too fast. I must admit that through the dinner, guests, dishes and gifts, I made it. Usually too exhausted to have enjoyed it, today I actually enjoyed the new keyboard my husband is playing with, viewi family pictures usually brought to a downed with abuse both my beloved and I had to endure. etc, today guests and all viewed the pics. Baby Jesujs will remain out this year, the one I got when I was in the second grade! He is the light of my world past and present\, and future. Words cannot express how yur words were an arrow to both us us. Thanks so much!
Barbs.
Dear Sarah,
That was close to what I felt. Thank you for the idea of keeping visible things around the house to remind us of ‘Christmas all year round’. I know I’m not alone.
Hi!! Thank you for those ideals…to hold on to Christmas all year round…because I really do want to hold onto Him all year round. keeping things around the house as well. I love Christmas!! Awesome!!
The last of our family members went home Jan. 4. Today I finished undecorating, cleaning, and getting the house back to normal. It looks bare and sounds much too quiet. But thanks to your post, (which I have read belatedly because of all the hubbub around here), I want to keep the sparkle of Christmas gleaming all year. Your suggestions are perfect, Sarah, especially the two “serves” each month. What better way to demonstrate our appreciation for Christ, our King?