'Tis more than a few weeks into 2024 and the Christmas discounts continued to rise as merchants attempt to gain back their shelf space that was filled with an elf and all other things holiday. Discounts rise from 30-50% a few days after Christmas to 75% after New Year and then usually 90% on anything that is left.
Anything that is left is basically left over. Slim pickings as faster shoppers made their way through the remainder of Christmas days and weeks after. Broken pieces. Things you may not have even looked at during Christmas. Will you know where it is for next Christmas if you buy now? Money not spent is money saved.
Until one day we arrive at the store and Valentine's Day decorations are fully in stock. Love day started rolling in right after Christmas.
We seem to move through seasons by what merchandise is in the stores at any given time. We start some holidays and just roll right into the next one as witnessed by Happy Thanks Merry HallowGiving Christmas! October rolls right in with November and December holidays all on display as well. Hellish looking monsters for Halloween. A few aisles over fall and Thanksgiving. A few more aisles and Christmas with words like Noel, Joy and Peace. The red and green. The manger pieces.
Sometimes we discount the joy and peace that Christmas promises far before the actual season. We spend time with our family and friends over some days off hopefully. Then life settles back to “normal”. Often we discount the Christmas that should roll into the New Year with us and last at least into the month of January, hopefully longer. We take down the decorations. We put the manger away....and sometimes we put the Christ of Christmas back into that box with the manger, angel and the rest of the pieces. Sometimes the PEACE of Christmas goes back into the box with the pieces.
Returning back to work and school. Tax time hits and we get busy with that. Then we flip the calendar page again and it is already February. And we roll into this year like we did all the others. Schedules fill up with sports and other activities. Spring and flowers. Easter and another reason to celebrate the new life we are promised.
Leaves back on the trees! A few more months and those leaves turn colors and fall to the ground. Hay rides. Bonfires with roasted marshmallows. We are back to October and trick or treating. Candy!
When put that way it really does speed by. What to do to make this year different? To not discount and lose the feelings of Christmas? The reason of Christmas and Easter?
Matthew 5:3-5 (MSG) “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
