Daily Devotion for January 1, 2006

A New Year

 

We are still in the Christmas season, but for many, Christmas ended six days ago. On December 26th, I find it so sad to see Christmas trees unceremoniously tossed out by the street, a few strands of tinsel still managing to glisten in the sun. It makes me wonder what else was tossed out with that tree: Good tidings to all men? Peace on earth? Hope?

 

We worked so hard to prepare our homes during Advent for the coming of Christ(mas). Did we also prepare our hearts?

 

When January comes, we are tired and ready to get back to “normal” life. We are ready to take down the decorations and store them away until next year. However, do we also store away the sentiments of our hearts that we felt so strongly during the Christmas season? Can we keep those heartfelt sentiments within reach all year long?

 

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 the flocks,
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 peoples,
To make music with the heart.

 

May the spirit of Christmas flow through your life today in this New Year and out into the world all year long.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
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