A lot of people enjoy their Christmas decorations all the way into the new year. I’m not one of those people. I’m notorious for being the first to pick up and put away all those Christmas decorations! My friends have commented on that because I’m also the one who enjoys Christmas more than most. But for me, when the people are gone, and the twenty-fifth is gone, so is the holiday.

I love the simplicity of my “undecorated” home. I love the peaceful quiet that follows the noisy, fun Christmas celebration. I love thinking about Jesus, finally born, in the arms of Mary. She must have been so relieved to hold him, knowing he had safely arrived.

Every Christmas season on earth has a beginning and an end. Nothing about our earthly lives is permanent, except our souls. Those of us who believe can say with conviction, “It is well with my soul.”

I will enjoy my morning coffee and a warm fire when I am able to look at my simplified surroundings. I will haul out the trash, throw away some Christmas candy, and think about losing any extra weight I’ve added. There is something wonderful about moving from one season to the next. There is something wonderful about the simplified joy of a Christmas “well done.”

Jesus came to his beloved disciple John on the island of Patmos. John was worshiping Jesus when the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Your Christmas season might last a little longer than mine, but, at some point, it will come to an end. Everything on earth has a beginning and an end. Everything, except God. God is the Alpha, the beginning of everything. God is also the Omega, the end. Jesus was “with God in the beginning.” Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus will come again as the Almighty Savior of the world. Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem but will come once again as the conquering King. It could be this next year! 

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. He is our treasure for every day on earth and for all eternity.