Packing Up Christmas Galatians 5: 22-23

I often wonder how people can keep up Christmas Decorations all year round. For me there is such delight in unpacking my ornaments, putting up the lights, and picking the tree each year, that when its time to pack it up, I do so in anticipation of the next year.

I do however, feel a sort of melancholy when the process of "undecorating" begins. Christmas seems to come and go so fast and yet, its such a special time where family and friends get together and we as people come together with love. It is as if there is a sense of expectation. An expectation of love and kindness, patience, self control. As I thought of those words I immediately began to think about the Fruits of the Spirit. How appropriate that as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the fruits of the spirit are so strong and prevalent. People are more giving, more compassionate to their fwllow man. The man outside the grocery stores rings the bell for coins, and many of us cheerfully give what we can. We pack food baskets, give gifts to children of prisoners, serve food at Church Shelters, and so much more.

The fruits of the spirit are God's gifts to us and once we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour they dwell in us while the Holy Spirit convicts us to change. It's up to us to allow God in, to let the Holy Spirit go to work. If we allow him to nourish us, our fruit becomes healthier, stronger. He helps us to become better people all year long. The Christmas Decorations, the joy, the fruits can be alive in us all year long. This year, let your Christmas lights shine all year long.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.