Keeping Christmas

Our Christmas tree this year...I found a few years ago that decorating those tall trees was not as much fun as it used to be (Who, me?  Getting older?) so I stick a short tree on top of my antique sewing machine and call it good...

Did you ever notice that during the holiday season everyone begins to use every gift and talent that they possess to celebrate the birth of Christ?  Those who bake...bake cookies, cakes, pies and nut rolls.  Those who write, often write Christmas letters.  Those who cook produce elaborate meals.  Those who decorate begin to deck the halls.  I have friends who are gifted in shopping, gift wrapping and singing...whatever the talent, they dust it off and bring it front and center at Christmas.  And don't we all benefit, doesn't it add to our joy, and our sense of celebration?

But once Christmas is over, we often pack up our talents and gifts and put them in a box along with the ornaments when we take down the tree, and don't dig them out again until next Christmas.  But I purpose that this year we ask God to help us develop any talent or gift He has given us, and use it to bring Him Glory all the year long.  If you bake, bake cookies for a shut in...if you arrange flowers, take some to a friend that is going through a hard time.  If you sing, use your gift in your local church.  If you write, write letters each month to someone that you think could use a little ray of sunshine.  Do you get my drift?  Let's really develop and use our talents in the care of others, for the glory of God.

And that, my friend, will keep Christmas in our hearts all the year long.

Merry Christmas!  DLB