A cartoon in the New Yorker magazine says it all. In the middle of the floor is a dried up, withered, Christmas tree. The calendar on the wall reads December 26. Dad is sitting in his chair with an ice pack on his head. Mom is in a bathrobe and her hair in rollers. The floor is a virtual mountain of torn wrappings, boxes, and bows. Junior is reaching in his stocking to be sure that there is no more candy. In the background we see a table with a thoroughly picked turkey still sitting there. The caption on the cartoon reads simply: "The morning after."

Well, perhaps we feel a little that way. Perhaps we fell somewhat let down. If you feel that way, it is quite understandable. Over the past weeks our emotions have been wound tighter than a toy doll. Our festivities have led up to near fever pitch. And then, suddenly, it is all over. Is it any wonder that it is somewhat of a let down? Psychiatrists even have a word for it: They call it "Christmas-slump."

A number of years ago, when Lou Holtz was at the University of Arkansas, he was taking his team to play a bowl game in Tempe, Arizona. The game was to be played on Christmas day. He was asked how he felt about playing a game on Christmas, rather than being with his family. The coach answered candidly: "I would rather be in Tempe. After all, once you have been to church, had Christmas dinner, and opened the presents, Christmas is the most boring day of the year."

Is it possible to lose the spirit of Christmas that quickly? Let us be honest. As we take down the decorations for another year, there is a sinking emptiness and an emotional let down. Many have given up live Christmas trees in favor of artificial. The last two years I have tried everything to keep our Christmas tree alive, but regardless of the solutions, the tree has always withered. Why? Because it had been cut off from its roots.

Maybe that is our problem this morning. Maybe we have trouble making Christmas last because we have become cut off from our roots. Or, to put it another way, maybe our celebration of Christmas is not deeply rooted enough. How do we deeply root our celebration of Christmas so it will last? Root it Deeply in God's Word! If Christmas for you is all about presents and treats and time off from work and Boxing Day sales and Christmas decorations, then it is certainly over already. Packed up for another year! If your tree isn't out on the curb already, then it is most likely shedding needles by now. The Boxing Day sales are over. You either have been back to work or will be by Tuesday. It's over until 2001.

So, how can you make Christmas last? Root your traditions in God's Word! If Christmas for you is all about the Son of God who became a human being and was born in the manger at Bethlehem, Christmas is NOT over for you! That good news of great joy which the angels shared with you is a new gift to you every day of the year. That comfort from the message that God has forgiven you is something that lasts forever! How do you make Christmas last? Extend those Advent devotions you were having into regular devotions for yourself and your family. Dwelling on God's Word will make Christmas last for as long as you are in his Word. You will be reminded over and over again of why the angels' news is good news for you! You will be reminded that there is true peace between you and God!

As a 12 year old boy, Jesus understood what was most important about their family's tradition of traveling to Jerusalem once a year. Being in God's Word! And that is exactly where He was! His parents assumed he was already traveling back with the other boys his age in their travelling group. Their yearly trip was over. Time to go back to Nazareth and punch back in at the wood shop. But Jesus knew the more important reason for being at his Father's house. And that was rooting Himself in that Word. Discussing it with the teachers. Growing in knowledge and faith. Learn from his example. Our current Christmas traditions have been around for many years, but not anywhere near as long as the reason for Christmas. Christmas has lasted for 2000 years! And it will last forever - because it is all about the good news from God that He sent us a Savior. If your traditions at Christmas and throughout the year root you deeply in that good message of forgiveness, Christmas will last for you!

Today, we also are celebrating the fact that this wonderful news has lasted for 2000 years! Today, a millennium officially ends. Another thousand years of God's grace to you and me! And that message of Christmas has lasted all this time - that's a reason to celebrate. I think it is also a reason to live by another motto that will help us make Christmas last: Live By the Calendar Instead of the Clock! The fact that with God, a thousand years are like a day, and a day is like a thousand years, should remind us that we can't squeeze God's plan into our handy Daytimers the way we would like to. God has let two thousand years pass since Jesus came the first time. We need to live every day in thanks to Him and in preparation for his second return. And we need to think long-term instead of what is best for us at present.

In "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," Stephen Covey teaches a time-management principle that is based on 4 quadrants: Quadrant 1 is urgent and important. Quadrant 2 is not urgent but important. Quadrant 3 is urgent but not important, and Quadrant 4 is neither urgent nor important. Don't you think it's true that today most people are in I and III, where we spend most of our time in what we feel is urgent, whether it is important or not? Our schedules get so filled up with this stuff! That is living by the clock, and not by the calendar. We really abandon Quadrant II, where we should be concentrating on: Not urgent, but important. Spending more time in this quadrant would mean spending time with our families and children, growing in God's Word, and growing in how we serve God and others. None of these things happen overnight. They are a result of a long process. But the time we spend here is more valuable than most of the things that fill our calendars and that we think are so urgent! Live for the future. Grow in God's Word and in the love you show Him back. Bring your families up knowing the same truth. This is living by the calendar instead of the clock.

Things that last for all eternity are so much more significant than things that get thrown out in the trash the next day. Pastors could tell you that people come to them speaking with all kinds of the following regrets: When I was young, my mother was going to read me a story, but she had to wax the bathroom floor and there wasn't time. When I was young, my grandparents were going to come for Christmas, but they couldn't get someone to feed the dogs and my grandfather did not like the cold weather and besides they didn't have time. When I was young, my father was going to listen to me read my essay on "What I Want To Be When I Grow Up," but there was Monday Night Football and there wasn't time. When I was young, my father and I were going to go hiking in the Sierras, but at the last minute he had to fertilize the lawn and there wasn't time. When I grew up and left home to be married, I was going to sit down with Mom and Dad and tell them I love them and would miss them, but my best man was honking the horn in front of my house so there wasn't time.

Into our hectic world, Jesus comes, and still invites us to exercise the spirit as well as the mind and the body. The best way we exercise the spirit is by giving attention to things of eternal significance, such as listening, loving, and learning from the One who has been around for all eternity, the One who took on human flesh and suffered and died for you and me. The Christmas message is the greatest news you could ever hear: "A Savior has been born to you!" That means you are forgiven. You have true peace in your life. Your life has meaning. There IS something more than just what we can see from day to day. There is an eternity in heaven for you, which will make the last two thousand years seem like two minutes! Make your Christmas last longer! Root yourself in God's Word and live by the calendar instead of the clock! Your Christmas joy will never end!

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