Whoa There!
Another flip of the calendar. Here we are.
What if it wasn’t the last page on this calendar, but the first?
Every year at this time is a blur to me. Before, during and definitely after. I’ve forgotten to pay regular bills, eaten way too much sweets and probably put more miles on my vehicle in December than any other month. Why? Why don’t I treat this month like any other month in the year?
Duh-Christmas.
Christmas is still a time of wonderment to me, even after all these years.
I wonder how I made it through the year. I wonder how I’m gonna make it through the month, how I’ll make sure everyone on my list will get the right gift from me, how will we be prepared with Texas weather in December.
As hard as I try, I cannot make the days pass slower. I want to slow down the days so I can finish all the projects I need to complete before the 24th! Then, I want them to slowly tick off from then to the New Year so I can savor time with family. S L O W
D O W N……
This morning when I turned the calendar page a rampage of thoughts came through my mind BEFORE coffee...now I’m fighting stress. But what if we treated June the same way we treated December?
Would we have the “reason for the season” on our minds? Would we fill our days thinking of others? Does a church service get penciled in on your June calendar?
What if we all pulled out our calendar for next year and wrote in PEN some of the things we have written on our calendar for this December-what would yours say?
For me, there are things I wouldn’t want written on my June calendar for sure! But there are many things that should be written on every month of next years calendar: make ___ for Christmas, send cards, get a neighbor gift, call ___, schedule time for others, reach out to someone in need.
I don’t want the only day I think of someone is when I see their birthday printed on the calendar! Perhaps I should flip it and shake everything up! Send people a gift when it’s not their birthday, call someone when it’s their anniversary instead of shooting a quick text, celebrate Jesus in May...and August...and daily.
Once I saw a story about a woman who had her home decorated for Christmas 24/7-365. She never took anything down, just added to her display of wonder. Would that get old? Would the meaning of Christmas become part of everyday or would it eventually go unnoticed? I’m not sure, but I’d like to think that for those of us that look forward to the beautiful parts of Christmas, it would remind us every day of what Christmas is really about. And for those who don’t look forward to Christmas, I’d love to think it could remind them of what Christmas is really about.
Memories aside, good or bad, Christmas isn’t about stress, hustle-bustle, loss, loneliness, debt or any other thing but Jesus. If you can’t focus on that in December, pen it in on a different day. Every day. He doesn’t care as long as you focus on Him. It makes sense-after all, He gives us each day, it’s the least we can do. We should celebrate every day just like when we unwrap a gift on Christmas!
When I fill out my new calendar, I’ll keep “Pray First” on the top of each page, but next year I’m adding something more...maybe “Look forward to Christmas each day!” or “Remember the Reason for the Season”. I’ll probably keep it simple and put “Celebrate Jesus”. Maybe I’ll even start a new tradition of spreading the spirit of Christmas throughout the year...Regardless of what I decide, I’m “praying first” that this December starts a whole new tradition of thanksgiving and celebration for me, and for you. Yep, I’m praying for YOU. Maybe that’s what I’ll add to my new calendar too!
Be blessed. Celebrate each day and remember, JESUS is the reason for all the excitement this month. I’m looking forward to the excitement of His coming again! It’ll be an even MORE Wonderful TIIIIIMMMEEE OF THA YEEEAAARRR!
