I took down all the Christmas decorations- every last thing: the tree, the lights, the stockings, the decorative signs from Hobby Lobby (40% off, of course!), the Nativity, and ALL the snowmen. I packed it up neatly and stored it safely away. I took it all down.
The day after Christmas!
I am not a Scrooge. Or a Grinch. Or some other sort of cranky, yet lovable, holiday character. I’m just a woman who likes to have her house in order.
I love Christmas- I do- the entire season. I love all the things that make the holidays feel festive and Christmas-y. I love it all.
Until December 26!
And then my festive turns to deflated.
My jolly turns to sleepy.
My ho-ho-ho turns to no-no-no!
Honestly, four weeks of Christmas decorations, watering the tree, festivities and cookies (so many cookies!) is just too much for this girl!
Come to think of it, I might actually be Charlie Brown. Good grief!
Now please don’t misunderstand. I love Jesus. I love to celebrate His birth. I am thankful for the gift of God’s Son. But I can celebrate His birthday without bows and ribbons and stockings and tinsel. Okay, so I don’t actually do tinsel. It’s too messy. And gaudy!
And that is why I took down all the Christmas things. On December 26!
Once all the Christmas trappings were safely stored away, I vacuumed the house, sat down with a cup of coffee, and sighed with a feeling of relief and satisfaction.
But then I looked at the fireplace mantle (which, by the way, is my favorite feature in our entire house. It is made of old, rustic barn wood. It is homey and simplistic and I adore it)! But it looked so dark. And empty.
Just moments before, it had been illuminated with a string of soft white Christmas lights, one of my favorite sights of the season. The light brought warmth to the dark, rustic wood, adding a welcoming glow to the corner of my living room.
But I took the lights down and packed them away and there was no longer a light in the darkness.
And then a funny thing happened. I felt a little sad. How could this be? Just moments before, I had a feeling of contentment and satisfaction. But the sight of the dark mantle summoned an empty feeling. A feeling of loneliness.
Suddenly, I had an inspiration! A lightbulb moment, if you will. I got in my car, drove to the local discount store, and purchased a box of half-price Christmas string lights. I placed them in a mason jar, tied on a pretty little bow made with jute twine, placed it on the mantle, and plugged it in.
Then there was light once again! Illuminating the darkness, filling the empty space, and dispelling the gloom.
And I felt a little warmth in my heart. Because, in that moment, on December 26, I felt the true meaning of Christmas. God’s gift of love, in the form of a baby, His son sent to earth, to illuminate the darkness.
This simple jar of half-price Christmas lights is the true meaning of Christmas.
I can keep it on my mantle, and in my heart, all year long.
No tinsel needed (or wanted)!
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12