The day after Christmas

(With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore:)

Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house, scraps of paper and candy canes tempted a mouse.

The stockings, once hung by the chimney with care, were torn down and tattered, 'cause Santa's been there

And I in my kerchief and ma in her cap, had just settled in for a post-turkey nap.

One tradition leads to another and even though Christmas is behind us for another year, the traditions continue.

The weeks of preparation - cleaning, decorating, cooking and baking are followed now by weeks of cleaning, cooking leftovers and walking off the extra pounds left by all that baking.

And all around the world, the festive decorations which brightened a corner of every room will be picked up, wrapped up, and safely stowed away, the green and red, the silver and gold, the shining bright lights and the great story re-told, becoming one of many memories.

One day out of the year, the world pays homage to an infant king. One day out of the year. Then he is packed up, wrapped up and safely stowed away. But that is the way of the world.

One night of wonder. One silent night. Then on to the next day, and the next cold, dark night. No star over Bethlehem, no angel on high, no peace on earth, no goodwill toward all men. The world will have to wait another 365 days for all of that.

That's a lot of cold, dark nights.

Is there anything more winsome than a sleeping child? I remember standing over Ben's crib, just watching him sleep, my heart filled with wonder that God would trust me with one so small, so vulnerable, so trusting. That may well be the greatest allure of Christmas. The image of that sleeping child, so small, so vulnerable, so trusting, and yet we call him king.

Kittens don't stay kittens and puppies quickly grow. It is the same for all of us. And it was for him, too. He was only an infant for a fleeting season - and grew to be man, a man who promised peace but who walked resolutely to a violent end. He was a man whose touch had the power to heal, but he now bears scars that will never fade. The Son of God, he endured the life of a man, not because he had something to learn but because we did.

More than anything we needed to learn the message I once saw scrawled on a wall in a Denver alley. "If we deserved salvation, we wouldn't need it."

The gift, though it first appeared wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, is so much more than the world is able to see.

So, while you're packing away the gold and the glitter this year, don't pack away the greatest gift of all. Celebrate him every day, in every way, and let the whole world know you serve not an infant king but a mighty and powerful King, who alone is able to save.

For those of us who know him as King of kings, Christmas is only the beginning of the story. We share him quite gladly for one night a year, but oh, what a wonder it would truly be, if the world could see Jesus every day in you and me.

"And the child grew and became strong: he was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him." Luke 2:40 (NIV)

Things you won't see in heaven:

Tattered stockings