Here it is. The day after Christmas. Doesn’t it sort of feel like its own tiny season? The big “to-do” is over and done. And the day brings a quiet, little pause between Christmas and the New Year.
For most of us, it’s a day when the world collectively exhales. The wrapping paper is now crumpled up and in trash bags. The cookies and pies have largely disappeared. And the obnoxious toy makes noises in the background.
There’s something comforting about this in-between space. Leftovers, for one.
But there are other little things. Like. The house is still scented with pine and cinnamon. And the lights glow on the tree, again. It is always nice to see those lights.
And yet, in a very short time, the energy has shifted. Christmas Day is all adrenaline and anticipation. December 26 is the soft pillow under our heads or feet.
Some people jump right into productivity mode. We all know them. I might be one of them. They are the people who pack away decorations, write thank-you notes, and start to put the house back in order.
Others stay in their jammy pants and practice the fine art of leftover grazing. I might be one of these people, too. Ham? Check. Cheeseball that keeps going and going? Check. Leftover cookies that we aren’t sure where they came from? Absolutely.
Well. The truth is, Christmas has become largely about the gifts, the parties, the dinners, the decorations. Basically, all the hubbub. It has become a commercial version of spiritual celebration.
Don’t believe me? Well, the stores are buzzing again. But now it’s packed with people in return lines and others who are the clearance hunters. The holiday music is still playing, but it sounds a little tired, like it knows the season is supposed to be over.
Oh, the day after Christmas. Perhaps we should slow down and think for a moment about what everything is supposed to mean. What is the real purpose of this season? Maybe this day is a time to let us listen to the quiet. To let us feel gratitude for everything around us. Especially for the leftovers.
“”””””””
“For it is in giving that we receive.” — St. Francis of Assisi
“”””””””
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” — Aesop
“”””””””
“The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.” — Pierre Corneille
“”””””””
“At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” — Denzel Washington
“”””””””
