I always feel a bit assaulted by the joy-sucking dully-funks while putting away the Christmas decorations and disrobing the poor naked tree, don’t you? Gone are the manger scene, colorful ornaments and illustrious reminders of this happy, happy season.
Cheerful carols heralding our Savior’s birth are replaced by the sound of the cat hocking up fur balls.
The aroma of freshly baked cookies is but a succulent memory as you crankily nibble a fistful of baby carrots.
The once festive house suddenly seems so dull. So blah. So deflated. And I find if I’m not careful, my spirit suffers the same letdown.
Sorta like the way you feel after gearing up for the big game in your team jersey, cheerleader socks, and logo panties, and then missing the playoffs by the width of an eyelash.
Or when you buy a smashing new outfit for the gala affair and discover when you get home that your back zipper was 
down the whole night and your tush was bulging forth like poppin’ fresh dough. And when you confront your husband with, “Why on earth didn’t you TELL me?” he replies, “Uhh … I thought you knew.”
Not that this has ever happened to me, of course.
But, okay. Onward to my point.
It’s far too easy to pack away Christ with the Christmas boxes. I suspect it grieves Papa God to see us relegate His good tidings of great joy to only 1/12th of the year. For some of us crazy-busy folks, maybe it’s even just one week of the year.
I have a feeling He’d rather us spread that joy around a little thicker. Like great globs of chunky peanut butter, not skimpy smears of creamy.
We worked so hard to keep Christ in Christmas. Won’t you join me in now striving to keep Christ outside of Christmas too?
I can pretty much guarantee our personal peeps will be ecstatically grateful if we try to exude a little more year-round love, joy and goodwill.
But, well … maybe not fruitcake.
New Devo Giveaway winners
Congrats to the winners of my New Devo Giveaway, who will each receive an autographed copy of Too Blessed to be Stressed: Inspiration for Every Day:
- Judy Schultz
- Debra Ann Gray Elliott
- Kim Crabtree
And because her name was drawn first, Judy will also receive my Too Blessed to be Stressed Cookbook (100+ recipes each requiring 20 minutes or less hands-on prep time).
Way to start the new year right, ladies! Please message me your mailing addresses to receive your prizes.
So true so true! <3
Deb, I am so excited to have won! I never dreamed I would but Thank you, and thank the Lord! My address is Judy Schultz 7129 SW 81st Dr. Gainesville, Florida 32608. Can’t wait to get started on the devotional. Blessings to you, and keep up the good worl.
Debbie,
I agree! Christmas should be celebrated all year long! Due to my circumstances this past Christmas, I feel I missed out on so much of the “Spirit of Christmas” which was depressing. I decided to continue to listen to the Christmas Station on Pandora and some Christmas CDs as well as to keep burning my Christmas Yankee Candle. Not that those have the true meaning of Christmas! I am just trying to hold onto some of those Christmas thoughts and the joy of the “Jesus Season” for the New Year!
Thanks for your Blogs!