As my kids once reminded me in a plea to leave our Christmas tree up, I believe we should be keeping Christmas in our hearts all year long.
Too many people rush everything, including those insistent on taking the lights and Christmas tree down immediately (I actually know people who take their tree down the day after Christmas, and brag to all their friends they already have the tree down -- is this a race?). If we can put up the lights and tree a month before Christmas, why can't they stay up for a month afterwards?
Are these impatient people? Or are they organizational control freaks? These folks complaining don't seem to take the time to find the joy in the season, let alone rejoice in it. Are they materialistic folks?
In addition, if these people profess to be Christians, do they not realize that Epiphany is January 6 (and for many religions includes the entire season from Christmas to Ash Wednesday)? Who dictates Christmas lights and trees need to be down by New Year's anyway? The Fashion Police?
Did these complaining people consider all the love that went into decorating the tree with the family, as well as how long it actually took to decorate the Christmas tree? What is this mad insistence to rush to the next holiday?
Perhaps we should keep our Christmas tree and lights up all year to remind us of the meaning of Christmas . I've actually considered keeping the tree by my railing in the living room as a permanent reminder, yet changing the other decorations in the house for each different holiday, too.
Can't we enjoy the 12 Days of Christmas? Why is it always out with the old and in with the new? Please, seriously consider leaving your tree and lights up, and keeping Christmas in your hearts all year long. (And for those inflexible folks who focus only on details, organization, and efficiency, do your own thing, by all means, but please stop grumbling about the rest of us who think differently, and consider leaving or do leave our tree, and perhaps, lights, up all year long.)
