Twas the day after Christmas

And all through the house

Mama was yelling,

“Hey, clean up this mess!”

On the day after Christmas, my girlfriend had a serious holiday hangover…

Her sweet smile and that cute little emoji make light of a heavy complaint: Christmas can be hard.

Before jingle bells jangle your brain and your wallet cries out for relief, let’s pause and remember the Ghost of Christmas Past – and bring the joy back to Christmas.

• Before you open gifts, read the story of the one true Gift. Here’s an article that combines all the scripture about Jesus’ birth into one passage.
• Begin your morning or end your day with a Christmas devotional like this or this or this.
• Prioritize “presence” over presents. Spend a little less time wrapping inanimate objects and more time chatting with real people. Turn off your phone and keep it in another room. Make eye contact and give others your full attention. Work side by side shopping, baking, wrapping, and preparing. 
• Do something special with a neighbor. If you’re willing to consider the notion, everything you need to get started is right here – including invitations and a Christmas countdown craft you can do with your family, children, or neighbors.

It’s not too late to have a Merry Christmas!