Go and Do Likewise

Today is Christmas Day.  It’s really rather anti-climactic for us because we did our celebrating yesterday.  We’ve had a kind of an “open house” the 23rd, 24th, and today, and although everyone has gone by this time (2pm), we had a good time.
Our youngest offspring and his fiancé were with us until just a few minutes ago, and yesterday my youngest brother and his family made the trek from Wichita in the rain.  Before they arrived, my wife’s first cousin, whom we hadn’t seen for awhile, stopped in for a couple of hours and we caught up on the goings-on in their family, and they with ours.
We opened gifts yesterday afternoon and had a huge dinner about 2pm yesterday.  We then grazed on the cookies, eggnog, leftover ham and fruitcake the rest of the day.  Bro left about 7:30 last night and we started the clean-up.
It’s been a good Christmas.  Not because of what any of us gave or received as gifts, but because of the reminder of the brevity of life, the love of others, and the grace and mercy of God.  We know that something bigger than us is at work, and it isn’t the American Economy.  It is, rather, a realization deep within us of a longing for something more and something better.  Something that is rock-solid and perfectly dependable.  Something that transcends all the glitter and hype of an imperfect world and existence.
If you’ve found it, you know it.  If you haven’t, you know it.  If you’re not sure, and you’re looking, contrary to what others will tell you, DO NOT look within.  Look instead to those who have found it (you’ll know them, too), and ask them to tell you about it.  Then go and do likewise.