The Christmas decorations are packed up and stored for
another year. But only the decorations,
the Christmas CD’s, DVD’s, the tree, the lights, garlands, toy Santa houses, wreathes,
gingerbread, advent calendars, and an over abundance of chocolate and goodies are
put aside. We may pack up lots of tangible
stuff, but Christmas cannot be boxed away in the attic. For faithful followers of Christ, Christmas
is a way of life that is never sealed up in packing tape and stowed away.
Seasonal trimmings, gatherings with friends and
family, cards, gifts, increased charity and the many other symbols of peace on
earth and good will toward men are all good things. Turning one’s thoughts to God and our fellow
men are commendable efforts and worthy of our time and attention. Do we practice those things for a few short
weeks and then box them up, never to be thought of for another twelve
months? It’s true that the decorations
would become tattered and worn with constant use. I might even tire of fancy chocolates,
although I doubt that. Which pieces
of Christmas can and should we pack away and what should we keep in our daily
routines?
I
recently read a quote that described success as achieved only by making changes
in daily life. In others words, we have
not become successful at anything until we have incorporated it into our
everyday activities and thoughts.
Singular events usually do not have staying power. One good gym workout does not make me
strong. One foregone dessert does not make me thin. A one hour practice session
at the piano does not bring about mastery of a great composition. A single cheerful greeting at the door at the
end of just one day does not make me a beloved wife or mother. However, daily repetition of any of the above
activities over weeks, months, years, and decades has the power to shape
extraordinary characteristics.
We
should never grow weary of truly good works.
Kindness, tenderness, patience, loyalty, devotion, and honesty should
never be packed away. We can never tape
shut the box of charity and acts of compassionate service. To give an example, I recently witnessed a
wonderful scene at the Washington, DC, temple where I have the privilege of
working each week. In that beautiful
edifice, sacred ordinances are performed that bind family and marriage
relationships for eternity. One happy
and grateful temple guest recently remarked, “If this is what you do here every
day, then every day is Christmas for you.”
Indeed, it is. The temple is open
and operating all year. I have
frequently pondered that comment and evaluated my daily activities to see if
they include the things that I want to keep open all year, every year.
How
is it possible to keep the symbolic Christmas boxes open and vibrantly
beautiful all year? Does one grow
tired of giving or even confused as to which boxes are good? After all, there are a lot of tacky decorations
and cheap substitutes for happiness out there.
How does one know what to keep and what to toss? Fortunately, there is help. First of all, there is a God who “slumbers
not nor sleeps.” His example is ever
present, and He is always accessible through sincere prayer and study of
scripture. He has organized a church
and called both ancient and modern prophets to continually guide us. He has put us together on the earth to allow
us to love and serve one another. Through
revelation and the witness of the Holy Spirit, He personally guides us. He has given us the freedom to act for
ourselves and to experience joy.
Christmas
came over two thousand years ago with the birth of Jesus Christ. There is no sadness at the close of each
annual celebration, for Christmas can
never be put away. It can be our daily walk, if we choose every day to spend our time and energy on the happy
things that can never rust, fade, or wear out.
May you be found so doing, and every day will be Christmas for you.
