The Day After Christmas

Well, another Christmas day has come and passed, number 66 for me. The presents have now been all opened, the Christmas meal has been eaten and friends and some family are back at their homes continuing on with their lives.

For so many it was just another Christmas day. A holiday that gives most people time off from their employment so they can decide how to spend their time, and money on this day. Also for many, so many, Christmas is a sad day. Loneliness due to the loss of love ones, lack of money to buy gifts for family members they love, and even lack of a place to sleep, yes, just like the Mary and Joseph on that day so long ago.

Yesterday for me I spent a lot of time thinking of Jesus and thanking Him for this special day. As I was preparing the Christmas meal, I thanked Him for the food that we were about to consume, food that would give strength to our bodies. As I embraced my family I thanked Him for the ability to show and receive love. As I watched each member of my family open their presents I thanked Him for the resources to provide for those presents and the happiness it brought into their lives, even if it may be short lived.

Also Christmas day now for me is a special day of hope. We celebrate it at the end of the year and it gives us hope going into the following year. For me I take that special day to say thanks for what He has done all year through for me. I also ask Him to use me in the coming year to be a blessing to others and to demonstrate by my life and love for Him, what it truly is to have Christ in your heart.

On Christmas day the Lord blessed me with two poems. This one is titled "What Can It Be".

What Can It Be

What is it that makes me want,
to write poems and sing to Thee?
What is that makes me long for You,
please tell me Lord, what can it be?

Why am I so consumed,
to search for You every morning, noon and night?
Please tell me Lord what more can I do,
to be more pleasing in Your sight?

What can it be that makes me want,
to reach out to You above?
With my eyes I am always looking,
with my ears, listening for Your Words of love.

I know the answer will come one day
when we stand together face to face,
then I will know and understand
when my Savior I finally embrace!

E. P. Shagott
12/25/09

May you truly understand the blessing of yesterday and may this the day after Christmas bring you closer to our Lord and Savior.

From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott