Happy 6th Day of Christmas

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When I was growing up, one of the superstitions that people around me believed was this: You must take your Christmas tree down before New Year’s Day or you will have “bad luck.”

At our first Christmas, we had very little money, so I turned L’eggs egg-shaped pantyhose containers into Ray and Charlene snowmen. Ray is even wearing a fake fur hat like the one he had back then. Oops! His twist tie glasses need to be reattached! 

I am thankful that Christ has set me free from this superstition (and all other superstitions, too). Besides, I like keeping my Christmas decorations up for a while longer.

One year I made tiny quilts for our tree and the trees of friends.

When I sang “The Twelve Days of Christmas” growing up, I wondered what the twelve days of Christmas were. I was glad to learn that the first day of Christmas is Christmas Day. That gives me eleven more days to celebrate after Christmas. I don’t have to feel pressured to get stuff put away quite yet.

Mama Sue’s candle holder

Our children and grandchildren usually visit us after Christmas. Even after they leave, I’m not ready for Christmas to be over.

My friend Sheryl made this fun gourd snowman and set him in this silver-toned sleigh. He is sitting on Mother’s aluminum tray.

After all, today is just the sixth day of Christmas. We have six more to go! I don’t need to feel sad that I didn’t do everything I wanted to do before Christmas. I can still listen to Christmas music and watch movies, too.

Our daughters and I made several of these clothespin ice skaters one year. Her sweater and hat are made from the finger of a knit glove. Her hair is embroidery floss. Her skirt is ribbon or fabric and her skates are paper clips.

Is there anything in your life that you are rushing through? Is there something about your life that needs to slow down? I encourage you not to be in such a hurry.

Another year we traced cookie cutters onto thin sheets of cork, glued on fabric clothes, and embellished them with puff paint. When our daughters were here for Christmas, we wondered if puff paint will ever come back in style.

I never see Jesus in a hurry in the Gospels. Consider this example from John 11:

Now Jesus loved Martha
and her sister and Lazarus.
So when He heard that he was sick,
He then stayed two days longer
in the place where He was.
Then after this He said to the disciples,
“Let us go to Judea again.”
John 11:5-7

Amaryllis blooms open so fast you almost feel that you can watch them open. This one has three more buds about to open and a stem that may shoot up with more blossoms. Isn’t God’s creation amazing?!

Jesus lived a disciplined life, always doing exactly what God wanted Him to do at a given time. When He was interrupted, He stopped, taught, and served. When it was time for His crucifixion, He was ready and willing. May God give us wisdom to know when we need to hurry and when we need to wait.

For while we were still helpless,
at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:6

 

 

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One comment

  1. I completely agree and we do not rush to “take down” Christmas either! I love to let Christmas linger on awhile. And interestingly, the 12th day of Christmas coincides with Three Kings Day, which some of my Hispanic relatives celebrate, in recognition of the Wise Men coming to see Jesus!!

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