This is the Year?

An Everyday Stewardship Reflection for Christmas 2016

 

And so this is Christmas and what have you done?

Another year over; a new one just begun.

– John Lennon

 

This year marks my 48^th Christmas! 48 times I have celebrated the feast of God becoming man in the Incarnation. 48 times I have sat in front of a Christmas tree and opened presents from those who love me the most. 48 times. That seems like a lot to me, and for those older than me, that means even more Christmases to celebrate.

I have some great Christmas memories. I also have some memories of Christmas days that didn’t end up quite like I had planned. But all in all, there have been 48 times when Christmas just took over all my being for a day.

This year, Christmas will begin that really big change in my life. I will turn on the radio and I will be asked in a song, “And so this is Christmas and what have you done?” This year I will say that I fell short again, but next Christmas? Next Christmas, I will say that was the year I truly made a difference in my world. Yes, I am holding out for Christmas #49.

Hopefully, after reflection about the months gone by, you will be able to say, “This was the best year yet! I really used my gifts from God to impact the world around me.” If not, let’s make a resolve to meet up again with next year’s Everyday Stewardship reflection for Christmas. That will be the year for which God has been waiting. Right?