Putting Away Christmas

All of the things on this tree are put away.  In fact, yesterday I spent the day putting away all my Christmas decorations from 2010. As I was working, Nic was upstairs working from home.  He said, "Hey, what are you doing?" I replied, "Putting away Christmas..." and I immediately thought, that is exactly what we do all too often with our every day lives.  

We shout, celebrate, and joyfully proclaim the birth of Christ for a few weeks in the latter months of the year, and then we tuck it away, tape the box up, and don't really talk about the manger for the rest of the year.

What about that is OK? Why can't we celebrate Jesus taking up residence and dwelling among us all the time? Why don't we live in a way that screams, "GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!" or "O COME, LET US ADORE HIM!"

Leave up your nativity set(s) if it'll help you remember.  Don't put away the greatest picture of God's faithfulness and love in sending His only son to earth... it's well worth keeping around and reflecting on all year long.