Good Christmas?

How many times has someone said to you, or you said to someone else, "Did you have a good Christmas?" It is a common way to wish someone well soon after Christmas Day. I am going to suggest a couple other ways to think when you hear that question (whether you actually say them or not is up to you).

First: "Yes, I did because I had a good Advent to help me prepare." This obviously presumes that you actually did have a good Advent to help you prepare for Christmas (not just with gifts and decorations, but also with devotions to get your heart in the right place before the Lord). This is helping to remind others about the reason for Advent. (And, you might want to ask someone on the eve of the 24th if they had a good Advent--always good to keep people on their toes!).

Second: "So far, yes, but Christmas has only just begun!" In other words, we need to acknowledge that the Christmas season does not begin the day after Thanksgiving; it begins at the Christmas Vigil on the eve of the 24th of December. Furthermore, it does not end at midnight on the 25th of December; it goes at least until Epiphany (January 6th, properly) and fully to the feast of Candlemas (February 2nd). Make sure you celebrate all of Christmas; that is the best way to "have a good Christmas".