Another Christmas has come and gone. Perhaps your December, like many of your friends and neighbors, has been busy again this year. For the last few weeks we’ve been hearing those famous words, “Tis the season…” People attach different words to the end of that phrase now-a-days. I remember when it was, “Tis the season to be jolly.”
Perhaps one of the appropriate terms today would be, “Tis the season to make our lives busier.” It is true. We speak all year of how busy we are, and that we cannot fit another activity into our busy schedules.
Yet, in December, some way Americans find fifteen more hours to shop, fourteen hours at social functions (work parties, church socials, etc.), four hours at Christmas pageants, plays, and cantatas, four hours baking, sixteen hours more with family and close friends, and six hours wrapping presents, decorating the tree and house. That is 59 hours!
Aren’t you glad December has 59 more hours than the other months so you can accomplish all these extras? Think of what we could accomplish if we each had 59 more hours the other eleven months?
We couldn’t use the time the same in the other months as we do in December, though. For one, the gross national consumer debt would skyrocket. All the sales might help the economy, but it sure wouldn’t help our personal pocketbooks and checking accounts. And what would we do with Christmas trees all year long? Take one down at the end of each month and put up a new one? Stockholders in electric companies would certainly be pleased.
Spending the extra time with family and close friends would be a plus. I wonder though, how many of our family members might say, “Enough is enough. Go home!”
Perhaps we could take part of the extra time each month and simply relax. Sit down and enjoy God’s wonderful creation and the wonderful life and opportunities He has given us that month. That would be nice wouldn’t it?
Think of the extra ministry (serving others) we could accomplish with 59 more hours every month. Man, could we get some things done for God then!
Let’s face it most everything listed in the previous four paragraphs is about as likely to happen as Donald Duck coming to life. It is not going to happen. If we had more time we would only find more ways to spend it in the busyness of our hectic lives. The truth is we are not going to get more time in any given month. Nor do we have 59 extra hours in December.
We must treasure the time we have. Life is but a vapor and we must be good stewards of the time we have and make the most for God. As for the month of December, we do find the time to do all these extras – 59 hours of time carved out to take part in the events and activities that are important to us and the things we want to be involved in.
Have you ever said, “If I only had more time I would…” You have the same amount of time in December as the other months. You accomplish those extras because you want to. If you can carve out the time in December, why not the other eleven months? Place God first in your life and make every month December. What can we accomplish? What can you accomplish? God only Knows!