Only ___ days until Christmas!

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Is it just me or has "Christmas" come even earlier this year?

Holiday merchandise is already front and center in the stores.
A radio station had an "All Christmas Halloween" and so the music's begun.
The Sunday paper contained several holiday toy catalogs.
Starbucks has already gone to their red holiday cups. (although I can't complain there as I enjoyed a peppermint mocha...)
And a couple days ago I saw a holiday themed commercial and since September I've been receiving "100 days until Christmas" emails.

100 days before Christmas? Are we really to the point that we need to prep for almost 1/3 of the year for this one holiday??

What about today - did we prep for today? Do we have special things planned? Décor? Food? Gifts? Special activities to make fond memories?

Of course not - we're too busy planning for the perfect Christmas and putting all our eggs into that basket.

But what about today?
And tomorrow and all the days before December 25th?
Are they less important?
Do we casually just throw them away since their significance is  only related to how many days away they are from Christmas?

Of course not; but it's so easy to be conned into doing just that - to rush through the days leading up to the day circled in red on the calendar - whatever day that is, a birthday, an outing, retirement, vacation, marriage or an expected birth day; and when we do so we forget that everyday is a gift.

This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

So teach us to number our days so that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom Psalms 90:14 (and somehow this numbering is NOT referring to how many days are left until "xyz"!)

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes- James 4:14


I have a friend with a terminal illness.
I saw a significant accident just yesterday while out and about.
I've attended the funerals of those younger than I.
And you have too. 

While I love Christmas and while anticipation for any special day is half the fun; don't rush by today and the blessings and opportunities that God has packed into it for you. Unwrap this present!

Comments

Unknown said…
Christmas is no longer a birthday party. It is commerce and money and greed. The day of Halloween there were Christmas season items already on the shelves. I find it very sad.
November 5, 2013 at 5:15 PM
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