Christmas Thought for July

The Work of Christmas

by Howard Thurman

When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone, 

......

When the shepherds are back with their flock,

The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost, 

To heal the broken,

To feed the hungry,

........

To bring peace among brothers, 

To make music in the heart.

Emily Freeman ends her book "A Christ-Centered Christmas - Seven Traditions to Lead Us Closer to the Savior" with this poem.  The author suggests using the figures in a Nativity to help us focus of the real meaning of Christmas. 

There are seven sections - Mary, Joseph, the angel, the shepherd, the Wise Men, the lamb, and the Christ Child. The author gives thoughts about the figure's perspective on the birth of Christ. Hymns, scriptures, a treat, and tradition are suggested for each part of the Nativity. A family could do one a week, starting midNovember and end with the Christ child on Christmas week. 

It's never too early to think about Christmas and the reason we celebrate it. In fact, our lives are much fuller and meaningful if the celebration of Christ and His teachings are part of every day. 

So - When I get out the Fall and Thanksgiving decorations this year, I'm going to pull out a Nativity also. 

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Book available from amazon.com or hopefully your local independent bookstore


poem: Howard Thurman, "The Work of Christmas" Whole poem not included because of copyright.

image from Word