Happy New Year Oak Grove!
Every year I find Christmastide to be bittersweet. Not only do my kids remind me that Christmas is over, but I am reminded by signs all around me from Christmas trees laid to rest on the curb to the noticeable reduction in light as Christmas lights are taken down and packed away until next Christmas. Yet, the peace I experience in the days following Christmas is an inexplainable source of Joy! Joy born out of gratitude for the precious gift of the birth Jesus! God with us! God with us every moment of every day – not just on Christmas day or during the 12 Days of Christmas but God with us all year long.
One of my favorite theologians to read is Howard Thurman. His writing speaks to the power and beauty of the work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Every year I find comfort and inspiration in his words – especially The Work of Christmas included in his book The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations. The Work of Christmas is a powerful reminder that Christmas is only the beginning. May you find comfort and inspiration in his words:
The Work of Christmas
By Howard Thurman
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart.
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