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Mann's
Message
Un-deck the Halls – But Not Your
Hearts
by Danny Mann
I love Christmas decorations. I know. It’s not
the most macho of admissions, and I’ll probably get some ribbing because of
this little Christmas confession, but that’s okay. I can take it.
Christmas decorations make everything better. Take my
evening drive home, for example. Thousands of colorful lights brighten my
neighbors’ houses. Their yards have been transformed into wonderful
illuminated landscapes inhabited by snowmen, reindeer, and elves.
I love it when I walk in the door at home and see the
Christmas tree. I don’t know how things work at your house, but at mine
the tree goes up at Thanksgiving. And while the tree is the centerpiece
of yuletide decor, it’s only the beginning.
Every shelf, every countertop, nearly every nook and cranny
of the house has been adorned with wreaths, holly and mistletoe. An
elegant ceramic reindeer has found a resting place in the breakfast nook.
Mr. and Mrs. Clause have taken up residence above the fireplace. They’re
dressed in white this year instead of the traditional red. I couldn’t
tell you why. That’s just the way it is. And yes, even the stockings have been
hung on the mantle with care in hopes that – well - you know the rest.
That old
Christmas carol, “Deck the Halls” is taken to heart at the Mann home. Our
halls are decked. Seriously decked.
There’s just one downside to this kind of major-league hall decking – and
that’s the un-decking.
Christmas is a little more than a week away. The un-decking
clock has started to tick. I have another week or so to enjoy the glimmer
and glitter. But after that, let the un-decking begin.
In a matter of a few hours, and with a lot of hard work,
things will go back to pre-Christmas normalcy. Up to
the attic to get all the empty boxes. The stockings will be
carefully folded and put away. The wreaths, the holly, the mistletoe will
disappear. Mr. and Mrs. Clause will go wherever it is that they go – and
they’ll take the reindeer with them. Bye-bye, elves. See you next
year. I suppose that’s the way it should be. It can’t be Christmas
all year, right?
The decorations aren’t all I enjoy at Christmas. Seeing
family is great. Eating too much is fun. And the music – I love the
music – sacred and secular. I think it’s wonderful that people think
about God and his gift of grace at this time of year. And there’s one
other thing – I love the way people seem to take care of each other at
Christmas time.
Nearly every day, at this time of year, I hear or read about
marvelous out-pourings of care and concern. Food for people who need it. Toys
for children who, otherwise would go without. Businesses
give. Individuals give – and give in abundance. We just seem to care more
about one another at Christmas. And that’s a wonderful and encouraging
thing.
But then comes un-decking day – the day after Christmas – and
most of those stories of care and concern go away. We’ll celebrate a new
year and then things will get back to normal.
I know we have to un-deck our halls. We can’t leave
those decorations up all year. But do we have to un-deck our hearts
too? I think we still care. I believe we are still concerned.
Is it possible for that little bit of the Christmas spirit to continue
throughout the rest of the year? Helping people who really need it may be
the purest way to celebrate the birth, life, death and resurrection of
Jesus. So let’s celebrate – all year.
Un-deck your halls?
Sure.
Un-deck our hearts?
Let’s not.
Merry Christmas.
Mann
is the Associate Minister at the 8th and
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