Only the Beginning

{a re-write of a post I wrote last year}

My favorite part of Christmas is the afterglow.

I know folks who are anxious to take down their tree and put all the decorations away as soon as the last gift is unwrapped.   I prefer to linger among the ornaments and manger scenes as long as I can.  Once the hurry and scurry of the season are gone I often find myself sitting quietly with a cup of coffee and a leftover Christmas morsel in the glow of twinkle lights on a tree, listening to the familiar and beloved hymns of adoration.

That is where I spent a good deal of yesterday. I picked up a treasured choir child figurine, given to me by my mother.  The set of three belonged to my Grandmother, and she said that they represented my brothers and me.  They have rhinestone eyes, perfectly shaped ‘oh’ mouth and the little girl has a head that was glued back on 50 years ago. I cherish these figurines and the memories of Christmas cookies at Neenie’s table.

My eyes fell on the various ornaments that my children, stepchildren and grandchildren made, and I stopped to pray for them, asking God’s blessings upon them.

I found a stray piece of wrapping paper that had not yet made it to the trash, and I was thankful for our abundance. Material abundance, yes, but also for the many gifts we receive that are not wrapped prettily with paper and ribbon. The intangible things of our lives.

I held cards from friends and family who are scattered far and wide and once again, I was in awe of such a wide range of people who are part of our lives.

All these things and many more caught my attention.  But the one thing that I came back to again and again is the manger with the Babe of Bethlehem.  Placed intentionally where the shadow of a cross falls across it.  It reminds me that the joy of His birth is only the beginning.

Christmas isn’t over.  This is only the beginning. Lent is just around the corner…and Easter is coming!

~Mollianne