Once again---Christmas has come and gone and we find ourselves waking on the day after. Some I know put Christmas away late Christmas afternoon, others will begin the task today as soon as they down that cup of coffee, then there are those who save it all until New Year's Eve or Day-claiming the season is not over until then, the more orthodox among us will leave it all until Epiphany or Three Kings' Day-January 6, and then there are those who leave it up and leave it up---because they love it so. No matter when you put away the decorations---the fact remains this is the day after and, for the most part, the celebrating is over.
We all wake up to "The Day After" on many occasions. It signifies the final curtain falling and the new day dawning. We cannot change---there will be change---and after the change--we either return to "normal" or we begin anew. Think of how your life changed with the birth of your first child, graduation, marriage, and even when a season comes to an end. Sometimes those endings--though signaling a new beginning are bittersweet. Sometimes those endings leave us spinning in the confusion of the new day. The loss of a loved one profoundly changes our lives. Throughout life---I have opened my eyes countless times to the day after. We cannot change the ending of a season--we can determine how we react to the new season. The question becomes are we going to trust God in our "new season"? Do we believe He is faithful and always has our best at heart?
On this the day after Christmas are you looking to the past or planning for the future? Unless you can put the past in the past and learn from it, you may become stuck dwelling upon it. We need to look to the future and live in the day and learn from the past. SO--Happy Day After---a New Year will soon be here. I am praying we all can vow to make the most of each day God gives us and help us stay in the moment. He has a plan---trust Him.
"For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil,
to give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon me
and come and pray to me,
and I will hear you.
You will seek me
and find me,
when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Living here and now, in the moment, is the very best way to tackle life, Lulu. And I'm one of those who keeps the decorations up until on or around January 6. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI am not one to follow a pattern in this matter. This year, for various reasons, I am busy getting it down except for the creche & wise men.
DeleteBlessings, Martha!