the day after Christmas

It was far from the picture perfect Christmas.  But you know what?  I think I've learned more this year about what the picture perfect Christmas really looks like than any year in the past.  It's so easy to crowd in so many other things...fun things...good things....but then no room for the right things. 

 

There was a blessing in telling my parents they may not want to come to our germ-infested house.  We all of a sudden didn't have a guest bed to put together, a basement to clean up, a guest bathroom to clean, a yummy Christmas meal to prepare, and extra presents to wrap...all late on Christmas Eve. While we missed them terribly, because they have always spent Christmas morning and day at our house since Taylor was born, there's no way I was capable of properly hosting guests. 

So we woke up Christmas morning, I drug myself out of bed, feeling worse than I had the day before, and made it about 2 hours before heading back to bed.  It was just enough time to get all the presents opened and our pancake birthday party breakfast eaten.  I felt awful going back to bed on Christmas, but they kids were so distracted by their new things, I don't think they cared much.  And it was par for the course.  Dave was in bed all day for Thanksgiving.  So I might as well take my turn on Christmas.   I slept from 9:30-2:30 and then finally made it back to the living room.  

Dave's back at work today, he's getting over the crud he had for the 2nd time.  Gavin has a fever and is wanting to be held today.  And the big kids are hacking up their lungs but entertaining themselves fairly well with their new things.  

Just like that Christmas came...and went. 

And isn't it true that the day after Christmas feels so different than the days before?

I read this from Ann Voskamp this morning...I seriously have felt like she has a camera hidden in our house the last few weeks and has been creating posts just for me....

"Hey Soul? Yeah, it was far from perfect & the house is a bit of a mess & the world doesn't seem to have quite the same sparkle today....
It may be Boxing Day, but don't let anything ever come box up the wonder that God. Is. With. Us.
He entered the world right at a muck pile -- so I wouldn't ever be left alone in mine.
Whatever mess I am in... I can exhale relief: I have a Messiah who meets me in it, won't leave me in it, will carry me through it. There is nothing to fear: God. is. Here.
Christmas -- Christ. with. Me. -- is just beginning -

-- the greatest gift that always fits, that never goes out of style, never wears out or breaks down or ever, ever fails. That's why you get to re-joy-ce and re-joy-ce now, always." 

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9  

Christmas comes at the end of the year...at the time we all seem to be putting closure on another year gone by.  It ends a bright and cheery season that brought such joy and fun, and giving, and sparkle.  And the day after just seems kind of dim and dull.  But Ann's reminder is that this is just the beginning.  When we see past the baby, and see to the cross...we realize that Christmas was the beginning of God's great rescue plan.  The beginning of the greatest love story this world has ever known.  At Christmas we focus so hard on his coming...do we forget about his staying?   Because of Christmas, we have a God who is with us always.  He came into the world in the middle of dirt and hay and filth, to remind me that he is with me in my dirty places too.  Whether it's the discouragement of a sick family, the pity party I want to throw (and have been throwing), or the short temper and lack of patience and yelling, the disaster of a house that leaves my mind and emotions hay-wire, the to-do list that I can't ever seem to get control over, or the fear of the unknown for a niece about to battle for her life ...because he came down, He is with me, RIGHT beside me, through all of this.  Even the stuff that I seem to think isn't a big deal...my daily routines, my schedule, caring for my children and husband...these things that so many times I try to do on my own...I love this reminder that He is with me through all of this.  Life is honestly just too hard to do alone.  (I heard your AMEN to that!)  I love the way the Lord works in "themes" in my life sometimes.  And lately it's been the Gospel.  The Gospel isn't just for non-Christians.  It's for all of us, every day.  When we truly live out the Gospel and allow it to change our hearts and our lives, our way of living changes. Our imperfections are met with his love and grace.  Our way of parenting changes, the way we do friendships changes, the way we do marriage changes, the way we go through our days changes, and the way do Christmas changes. I love that the Lord is taking me back to the heart of the Gospel lately...showing me how I need it desperately in every single one of my days. 

"The babe who lies in a wooden manager, came to lie on a cross...to heal all wounds. If there is no cross in my Christmas, then my Christmas has lost Christ..."  - Ann Voskamp

And while our Christmas was FAR from sparkly.  I'm reminded that regardless of whether Christmas is picture perfect or a perfectly awful mess...it really doesn't change anything.   Christmas brings hope and light to a dark and messy world.   The world around us may view this day after Christmas as dull and dim and less sparkly. A day to get back to work and routine.  Everything gets boxed up and the store shelves are filled quickly with Valentine's Day items.  But really this day should be full of light and hope.  He was born so he could die.  He died so we could live.  And when we fully trust and accept that gift...our lives are filled with that sparkle of hope all the time.  Especially the day after Christmas.  

*advent wreath made by Ann Voskamp's son, bought at www.joywares.com