Today, traditionally referred to as Twelfth Night, is the day many will take down their Christmas decorations for another year. I don’t know about you, but I always anticipate having a load of time between Christmas and New Year to catch up with friends and family etc and then it seems that in a blink of an eye the time has gone and we’re dismantling the tree and packing away the baubles.
When I was a child, I remember preferring to get presents I could unwrap, rather than tokens and vouchers. Not now! My daughters got together and bought us theatre vouchers. Julian bought me tickets for the Strictly Tour show and his parents generously gave me some money to buy some books for my course. It’s so lovely to have these to look forward too – it extends Christmas even when the decorations have come down.
And that’s what the real Christmas was all about too. Christmas isn’t just about the past even though it was grounded in prophecies; nor is it about one isolated night when Jesus was born, as wonderful and memorable as that was; but Christmas is about future promise – salvation, hope and peace. And these gifts have no sell by date and will never be used up. They are everlasting and undimmable – even brighter and better than when they started.
As stated in the closing verse of a well known carol:
‘For lo, the days are hastening on, to prophets shown of old,
When with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own the Prince of Peace their King,
And all the world repeat the song which now the angels sing.’
Awesome God,
Thank you for Christmas – for being able to spend time with those we love. For presents and parties, trees and lights, Santas and snowflakes, glitter and fun, matching pyjamas and stockings, hot chocolate and freezing ice cream, thank you for being with us through the happy celebrations.
But God, we know that happy times don’t last forever. The time comes too soon when we have to wrap up the decorations, turn off the lights, put the empty bottles in the bottle banks and the packets in the bins, go back to work. Thank you for being with us through the ordinary or even sad times.
Like baby Jesus and his parents, our future may feel uncertain, unsafe and scary. Thank you that You are ready to stay beside us, to go through the tough times with us and that gives us peace and hope for the days to come. Thank you that with You with us, every day can feel like Christmas. Amen