A week from now...

A week from now will be the weekend after Christmas.

A week from now you may get up Saturday morning and get straight to work clearing away the last traces of Christmas.

Before you do, read these thoughts from my wise-before-her-time niece Meghan. They might make you change your plans.

And milk every ounce out of the holiday to see if you can make it last the whole year through.

How can people be so sick of Christmas? I’m not talking about the commercialism that the stores throw at us from the end of October until almost the end of December. No, I’m talking about the actual Christmas season. To me, Christmas is not the decorations, gifts, or even the music. Instead, it is the celebration of the birth of the Christ-child. Don’t get me wrong, I love the music and the gifts, I could take or leave the decorations, but I love them for what they represent and celebrate: the omnipresent God made flesh and sent to earth as a baby. This is why, when my dad starts playing Christmas music in October, I don’t think it’s too early for the music, instead I recognize it as a reminder of my God’s awesome power. I mean, sure, by the time Epiphany has ended I’m ready to put every piece of Christmas related propaganda into the attic, but I don’t want to forget what the true reason for the season really is. So why do we have to get burned out on Christmas so fast? Why can’t we remain excited about Christmas all year round? It’s because Christmas in our society is no longer about Christ’s gift to us but it is now about how much we can get for ourselves.

So I want to challenge you this Advent season and for the entire year to come, take time out once a day to remember what Christmas is really about. Remember that Christ came as a child to eventually die for the sins of the world. I challenge you to listen to Christmas music more than just during the “appropriate” time of the year. Listen to “Silent Night,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” or “O Holy Night” and pay close attention to what the words are really saying. Bust out singing one of these songs in the middle of July, or maybe at Easter when we once again celebrate Christ’s sacrifice. If you don’t think you can handle the music all year long, celebrate this season from now all the way through the Epiphany.

< Don’t take your Christmas tree down the day after Christmas, instead turn off the house lights, turn on the tree lights, lie underneath the tree, and watch the lights twinkle like stars in the dark. As you watch the lights, think about the star that led the wise men to Bethlehem all those years ago. If you don’t think you can handle all of these options then just choose one option. Or at least refuse to burn out on Christmas as quickly as you normally would.

This season only comes around once a year, but the miracle of this season should be reflected on all year long. If this means Christmas music has to play all year long to remind us of the miracle, then so be it. Jesus is more than just the reason for the season, He is the reason God will forgive that which He once deemed unforgiveable.