June 6 Home Communicator
January 7 Home Communicator – Is Christmas Over??? And What About Those New Year’s Resolutions??
Greetings and Happy New Year! I hope that you had a blessed Christmas. With all the build-up to Christmas – programs and concerts, get-togethers and celebrations, shopping and baking, etc. – the days after can be a bit of a letdown. I was at our family Christmas party; it was a wonderful time with family. I especially enjoyed watching the younger children as they played games and opened presents. As we were all packed up and getting ready to leave, the youngest looked up at his dad and asked, “Is Christmas over?” His dad answered, “Yes.” The look on that little one’s face spoke volumes – quite a mixture of emotions.
I spent some time the last few days thinking about that question and realized that for us as Christians, Christmas is not over but instead it marks the beginning of our work in God’s Kingdom. If we look at Jesus’ life and God’s Word, we realize that now that Christmas is ‘over’ the work of Christmas begins. Christmas celebrates Jesus’ coming to this world. And when He did, He gave us the perfect example of how we are to live our lives being the change as Kingdom builders.
If we need to make any New Year’s resolutions, let us resolve to refocus on our school theme this year of being the change and go into the world to reflect Jesus to those in need of knowing Him. The work of Christmas is the calling of people who know the Kingdom of God is within them. They use their God-given gifts to be the change – to serve everyone as they would serve Christ Himself. When we show love to people around us, others will see a glimpse of God’s Kingdom here on earth. “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. And ALWAYS give yourself FULLY to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is NOT in vain.”Building God’s Kingdom can begin small and quietly – like a tiny mustard seed growing into an enormous tree – it will eventually push outward until the whole world is changed. Being the change – this is the work of Christmas!
Being the change together,
Mary Broene, Interim Superintendent
