In Others’ Words: Honoring Christmas

A common theme among Christmas quotes is the idea that the spirit of Christmas shouldn’t be confined to a single day.

Of course, different people mean different things when they talk about the spirit of Christmas.

Love.
Joy.
Goodwill.
Kindness.
Giving … and receiving. 

Truly, all of these attitudes are part of Christmas. And yes, it would be wonderful if we didn’t pack them away with the ornaments and lights and stockings and DVDs of It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street.

But for me, honoring Christmas in my heart all through the year means more than stirring up my emotions. I want to remember that the very first Christmas was a reflection of God’s heart toward all of mankind. That the first Christmas was an expression of God’s love for us. That the angels sang good tidings of great joy at the birth of Jesus. That God’s will toward us was good … his thoughts and actions toward us are woven through with lovingkindness. And that the ultimate expression of giving and receiving is expressed in God incarnate. 

One Christmas Eve, I visited a congregation where the pastor suggested not packing away our nativity scenes when Christmas was over. Rather, we should keep the figures out somewhere we could see them for the next 12 months until it was time to celebrate Jesus’ birth again. Mary and Joseph. The baby Jesus. The cattle. The shepherds and the sheep. The Wise Men.

What a practical way to honor Christmas … to keep it all the year.

In Your Words: How do you honor Christmas in your heart, keeping it all through the year?

In Others’ Words: Honoring #Christmas http://ctt.ec/kj7B6+ #InOthersWords #quotesaboutChristmas @bethvogt

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“I will honor #Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” http://ctt.ec/0COY7+ #CharlesDickens #quotes @bethvogt

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