“Ain’t Nothing As Over As Christmas”

The holiday has passed. The festivities have ended. Wrapping paper which once hid wonderful mysteries and adorned thoughtful gifts now clutters a cold floor. The stockings that were hung by the chimney with care now lay empty and forgotten on the hearth. The guest room is empty once again. The house is strangely quiet and still. The sink is full of dishes and the refrigerator is full of leftovers. A weary tree is leaning a little and it seems to have grown tired from holding its limbs up for so long. The candles were blown out long ago, and the lights have been unplugged for the last time. Even the poinsettias on the porch are beginning to curl and they look a little more brown than red. That man was correct who once said, “Ain’t nothing as over as Christmas.”

Christmas was yesterday, so the party is over, but the reason for celebration remains. We remember the birth of Christ by celebrating Christmas, but we experience His presence and power at work in our lives every day, whether the calendar reads December 25 or not. The night He was born, the angels declared His arrival by saying “Unto you is born… a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” He was born on that specific day, but He is and will always be our Savior, Christ the Lord. Isaiah prophesied that He would be Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” He entered into humanity on Christmas but He remains here still. He is always our Emmanuel. 

The holiday is over. The party has ended. Christmas has passed. The meaning of Christmas, however, lingers with us. The Light has come into our dark world changing it forever. Love reached out to us and brought us hope, peace, and joy. Nothing can change that. The calendar does not dictate an end to our rejoicing. The Son of God has come! Every day can be a celebration of all He has done for us. He came that we might have life and live it abundantly. That doesn’t change when the Christmas carols end or the decorations are packed away. We might not say “Merry Christmas” again until next year, but there is still much joy to be found, no matter what day it is. 

Christmas is over, but the meaning and our celebration of it remain – forever.