The Twelfth Day of Christmas.

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I have had the best Christmas, as a holy holiday, that I have ever enjoyed.  I didn't worry about doing this, or that.  No lights, candles, or decorations, if I would like to figure some of these things out, in time.  Presents went out, but were sent early and arrived before Christmas day, mostly.  Gifts, given and received, weren't at the core, or really were more of a dressing for celebration, in the spirit of Christmas.  It was about prayer, thanksgiving, and dealing with real and ordinary life but with the spirit of Christmas behind the days, with a greater emphasis from that as to how to deal with things.  One last day for spiritual observation.

Difficult?  In a way.  Moods, hunger, needs, wants, and such all tried to crowd in.  And they did, but they always will.  Whether you celebrate a day, two, or twelve, standard daily life will always intrude.  Unless... you realize that the intrusion of "real life"... isn't an intrusion at all.  We celebrate a birth for Christmas.  How much more "intrusive" can life get?!?  It did take a few days to understand this, mind you.  I am just a student in this area, and not the brightest of them.  But it did come to me, and earlier on.  Life is not an intrusion.  It is as much a part of the holy as it is a part of any other time in our lives.  I saw this in church, at one time.  And now in holy days.  I am learning.

Remembering to pray, to consider, and often, on each day, was not as difficult as I had supposed.  I had thought, with my mind often adrift as medicines, or weather, or health waver, that I might forget, or get lost in the world, or such.  It didn't actually end up difficult, in one sense.  My mind would and did come back to considerations of love, what God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit, mean to me.  What my duties are, responsibilities, and what I expect in return.  God doesn't take without giving.  If you enter any contract with God, you can't lose.  Think of it in human terms, perhaps.  He is like a wealthy father.  If he wishes to buy something, he always pays more than it is worth.  If he wishes to trade something, you always come out ahead.  It might not always seem like it, but the truth is there.  And more?  While you may dearly love that parcel of land or animal, in buying it from you, somehow, it really does work out to your benefit on top of the immediate gains.  Only, instead of merely of a secular order, His transactions cover everything from financial to spiritual and are everlasting beyond even the grave.  No, prayer and consideration was not a difficulty.

I am weary.  I was not quite ready for it to be this much of a marathon event.  Next year I will have a better idea of what I am dealing with.  But weariness, in some cases, is a very good thing.  I will have eaten of the Spirit of Christmas enough to last me the year.  Easter, actually, will be a longer holy holiday as well, I now believe.  While I can't always, and might not always, celebrate these things in an official manner, for illness and other considerations, I cannot ignore them.  Here, at home, is what I have.  And so I will make room.  Even so, considering the reason, and sacrifices involved, what I offer is small, humble, even a bit begrudging... if they stopped there.  Actually no matter where they start or stop, I can't offer enough thanks.  But to keep going what I start in these times is the key.  And, so I shall endeavor. 

Merry Christmas.