PUTTING AWAY OR KEEPING CHRISTMAS

We've done it! We've done it again!  We have celebrated Christmas.  The frantic last minute rush is over.  Bright, bow-decked packages have disappeared from under the tree, and a rainbow of crumpled paper spills out of the garbage can.  Bows and bags, saved each year, have been carefully placed in my Advent box - the pre-Christmas box I use to help me remember what comes out first.  As I close up this box and get ready to put it back in the attic, I start to recall that it wasn't very long ago that the presents were wrapped so nicely, stacked on my extra bed.  They are all a part of the love and excitement that will follow from the spirit of giving, the Christmas spirit in my house.  I'm so anxious to clean it all up, but maybe it's a little early to do that - January 4th.  I start to feel a little guilty, since I just put baby Jesus in the manger not long ago.

Christmas, rightly called a festival of good will: "Good will towards men" literally from the Greek, means, 'God's peace in/amongst/on men' who are being good to one another.  It is right for us even on and especially during these days after Christmas Day, to sing carols and hymns about goodness, tenderness, warmth and love.  Words like:

"Comfort, comfort my people. Tell of peace so says our God; comfort those who sit in darkness.
Hark the glad sound the Savior comes; let every heart prepare a throne, let every voice a song.
What child is this who laid to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping; joy, joy for Christ is born; Yea
Lord we greet thee, born this happy morning. True faith and love to us impart, that we may hold you in our heart."

My thoughts continue. I start to think and wonder about the preparations for making Christmas a memorable event - the sounds, sights and smells of the homemade gifts (thanks, Pinterest!); the traditional foods of plum pudding and white sauce, French