Were You Changed By The Visit?
Taking down Christmas decorations is like clicking that red “X” on a computer file. The abrupt change either allows us to move on and into a new year or feel the pains of saying goodbye to the holidays or... fill in the blank.
I just can’t take down our faux glass sculpture of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I’ve left a terra cotta Bethlehem village up high upon a mantle over our tall living room mirror.
I’ve added a third because it is exquisite. My creative wife simply and brilliantly took a fallen pine branch and turned it into a small tree with miniature white doves clipped on the “boughs” from which hung the words “Joy.”
It’s worthy of year-round staying power because that little three-letter word is also the acronym that succinctly reflects the staying power of my visit to the manger: “Jesus, Others, Yourself.”
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: Portals open for those who have truly visited the Babe and have not forgotten who it was they saw.
They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child… Luke 2:16 NIV