December 27, 2007

The ghost of Christmas past

Many of us feel a bit of letdown after Christmas has ended. The month-long excitement of the season ends suddenly with almost no decrescendo. The anticipation begins to build around Thanksgiving and increases steadily and seemingly exponentially with each day until Christmas Day arrives. The surrounding events (visits with family and friends, Christmas pageants, special church services, Christmas caroling, etc.) increase as the big day approaches.

But then the day is over. The presents have been unwrapped. The wrappings and bows have been thrown away or stored for next year's use. And although the tree remains in the living room and the lights still shine on the houses for a few more days, they seem to be simply a leftover and to not have any true reason for being there.

As with everything else, our son's version of the "Post-Christmas Blues" is extreme. It displays itself with a severity that is almost impossible to describe. And I tend to react to this each year rather than remembering that it happens each year and being prepared for it. Can this annual post-Christmas emotional meltdown provide an opportunity for teaching?

Jon Bloom of Desiring God Ministries provides some solid insight into this question with his post, "Hopeful Post-Christmas Melancholy."

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