Christmas is back in the attic

Have you ever heard a song on the radio and found yourself humming, singing or maybe even whistling the tune all day long?  You just can’t seem to get it out of your mind.  Sometimes you even reach the point of wishing you could cram the melody back into the radio speaker.

I had a similar experience right after Christmas, but this time it wasn’t a melody.  I was proofing an email just before hitting the “Send” button.  In describing to my friend my most recent activities, I had written these words – “Christmas is back in the attic.”  That sentence grabbed me and stayed with me for two whole days.  I pondered it and even meditated on it.  Christmas!  – back in the attic?  I hate to think I said it.   The attic is no place for Christmas – especially if your attic looks like ours.

Perhaps if I didn’t “pack” Christmas away, I could enjoy all year some of the things that bring me the most joy during the holidays -- things like the generous spirit that makes me want to give and give more, like the warm greetings of “Merry Christmas” to store clerks and even strangers on the street, like the hopeful feeling that all is well, like the joy of friends and family gathering around the table.  Surprise!   I don’t have to give up any one of those just because my artificial Christmas tree is in its green bag in the attic. 

I hope those warm, fuzzy feelings of Christmas will be yours through a cold January and a scorching July.  Sure – the Christmas sweaters are back in the plastic bags and the fruitcake is gone, but the reason for the season is with us always.  By the way, just so no one will think  I’ve escaped from somewhere, I think I’ll replace “Merry Christmas” with a genuine smile and a “God bless you.”