"See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to
you.” Isaiah 42:9
Ah, the
Christmas tree. Its twinkling beauty
holds the power to mesmerize and condemn. Condemn? Perhaps you are now questioning my
reasoning. But for me, and other
neurotic souls, that tree has a condemning thing about it. After Thanksgiving, as I ride along and realize
that other folks on our street have their tree up, I begin to have the nagging
feeling. I need to get the tree up. The
kids won’t even know it is Christmas unless I get the tree up. Once it is up, I can thoroughly enjoy looking
at it. But then a new nagging starts… you need to get presents wrapped and
under the tree… a feeling fully satisfied on Christmas Eve when it is full of
the best we have to offer that year to our children. And then, you guessed it, the day after
Christmas… it begins to taunt me once again.
I then start with a quandary… How long must I keep this thing up to make
it worth all the hassle it was? Am I a
scrooge if I take it down immediately?
In our early years of marriage, when we were childless and had money to
spare, I would always leave it up until after New Year’s Day, because my
husband is a New Year’s baby. I would
wrap up several presents (again, this was B.C.- before children) and enjoy it
until he opened presents on his birthday.
But these days, his birthday is a quieter and lower budget affair. Thus, my conundrum. Do I take down the tree or leave it up until
after his birthday?
OK, so maybe
you now realize you are reading the rantings of a woman off-kilter. But let me ask you this- what is the Christmas
tree in your life? What is it that hangs
over your head, makes demands on you and causes torment? Is it debt?
Is it health that you could improve by making lifestyle changes? Parenting guilt and expectations? An unfulfilling job? Whatever stares you down on a daily basis, we
face the same questions: What do I need
to do? What do I need to let go and put
away? Is it time to conquer this thing
or recognize that this is a fight that I do not need to win?
These questions
are one reason why I cherish the new year.
As today’s passages states, “the former things have taken place and new
things I declare…” There is a lot of
water under the bridge. Some of it has
been awesome- milestones of our life.
Other things have been frightening, disappointing and down-right
depressing. No matter; it is in the
past. Now you look ahead with a year
full of potential. Will there still be
disappointment and pain for me in 2013?
Most likely- unless the Lord soon returns for us. But this year can be a great year if we apply
ourselves and seize the opportunities that the Lord puts in our path.
Tomorrow we
will talk about looking to the new. But
today- survey your life. Pray and read
the Bible a bit. Ask he Lord the hard
questions. What do I need to let go
of? What do you desire to change in me?
Let today be a day of putting the past behind you, and stirring up yourself to
embrace the new with zeal and enthusiasm.
Thank you Lord, for Christmas and all
it means to me as a Christian. But as I put the past behind me, I ask that you
help me to know what to let go of and what to cling to. Help me find renewed hope and strength in
you. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Happy New Year!
Sherri
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