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I have always loved the image above. In a furniture store in the town over from where I live, they have a Christmas statue of this in the window at the holiday season. I have always loved seeing it, because I think it speaks volumes to the commercialism we have all grown to support over the weeks and months leading up to Christmas. What more of a profound image than to see Santa bowing to the Christ Child in the manger. Santa recognizing the TRUE MEANING behind the day in which he (Santa) gets more credit than Jesus.
Now, here we sit on December 26 and the big day has come and gone. How many people will start taking down Christmas decorations today? How many people will be packing away their presents and start tidying up the house? The big day has come and gone, but has it, really????
Technically, the Twelve Days of Christmas start with Christmas
Day and go until January 6th. It isn’t a countdown TO Christmas, but
rather a count of the days between Christmas (December 25) and Epiphany
(January 6), when the Wise Men finally made it to the manger to see the Christ
Child, whose birth was fortold to them. Contrary to much popular belief, these
are not the twelve days before Christmas, although many people consider this
the case and start using the 12 Days of Christmas as their countdown to the big
day. Not I. I start my 12 Days of Christmas on December 25 and end it on January 5, with Epiphany beginning on January 6.
Yes, I truly do celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas! I follow the way it was meant to be. My Christmas
decorations will remain up in my house until the weekend of January 10-12. I
will enjoy the Christmas season (despite having to go back to work on January
2!) and ALL it has to offer. Christmas is more than just one day to me. As I looked into the 12 Days of Christmas song, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the famous song about the 12 Days of Christmas was written
in England as a catechism song for young Catholics in the days when it was
illegal to practice or teach the Catholic Faith. It contains hidden meanings intended to help
children remember lessons of faith. Do a google search on explanations of the 12 Days of Christmas and you will be surprised to learn what each day helped youngsters to remember about their faith.
As I have stated a few times in the past, Christmas meant something more to me this year. It meant more than just presents under a
tree, decorations adorning the house, spending time with family members.
Christmas was about my renewed faith. Christmas had a special hold on my heart
this year, more than it ever had before. I was able to really sit and
appreciate the meaning behind Christmas.
From the Christmas Cantata on Sunday evening to the sermon
given by our minister’s wife (who is a retired minister as well) on Christmas Eve, I was
reminded that it ALL began in a manger in Bethlehem so long ago. Yes, we
celebrate December 25 as the day Christ was born, but again, I was reminded
that we chose that day, in all likelihood, this was NOT the day that Christ was
actually born upon this earth. As I sit here, in the quiet stillness of my
house, fireplace aglow, snow falling so peacefully outside, I can’t help but
feel consumed by the whole idea that it all started with an innocent child in a
manger, born to save each of us.
Christmas has been a wonderful day for me: the marriage to
my best friend Christmas Day 2009; the near Christmas birth of my baby brother
December 23, 1977; the Christmases spent with family, surrounded by beauty and
love; the services by candlelight on Christmas Eve in our tiny church in our
little town. I have always loved Christmas, but this year, well, this year, I
have wrapped myself around a new idea of Christmas. We celebrate the birth of
Christ, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The Christ Child. This truly is the reason for our celebration. He is the reason for ALL our celebrations. To Him be praise and honor given.......
Hopefully, you are spending some time reflecting on what
Christmas truly is all about. Hopefully you will choose to enjoy the season of
the 12 Days of Christmas. And hopefully you will be filled with an abundance of
love, peace, hope, and joy!!!
Until tomorrow, my friends………
Think Thankfully!!!
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