I have not put up decorations. I have not baked goodies. I have not sent Christmas cards or holiday letters. I started and finished shopping yesterday. I started listening to carols this evening.
I recently lamented that I have not been fulfilling my holiday duty. I repeated this to my parents last night. Their response: "but is that what it is all about?"
Although Christmas is not about trees and twinkling lights or shortbread and chocolates or cards strung along the mantle or yet another carol on the radio ... these are things that refocus me on the fact that it truly is Christmas. The past two weeks since I've been back from Africa have been a blur. Work (and lots of overtime) and meetings and a wedding and a weekend birthday bash ... these things have kept me busy. Truthfully, it has been just like any other day or week.
It is so easy to forget about Christmas throughout the rest of the year. Why should now, when I have the opportunity to reflect and rejoice openly in the birth of my Saviour, the season be lost to me. So, in many ways, I am truly sorry for not getting my act together, popping a CD in, pulling out that box of cards I bought last year at 80% off, munching away on freshly iced sugar cookies and addressing you a letter under the glow of my twinkling pine.
For now, this will have to do (HT: Will):
I think the real Jesus wants us to take the baby Jesus out of our nativity scenes, and into our real worlds... What kind of life are we giving baby Jesus if we only show him off close to Christmas?