The 26th Of It All

There’s a question that’s coming for you this December and there’s no chance of stopping it. This question is going to confront you soon. It’s going to get in your face and demand an answer. And answer you must.

The question is: so, when do you take down the Christmas lights? When do the decorations get packed? When do you put it all away till next year?

Those questions force you to separate (and end) the Christmas holidays from regular life.

December 26th can haunt you. It means Christmas is over. All the parties are done, all the presents opened, all stockings emptied. It’s all done. Finality.

“Just one more night of Christmas

One more day for love

A temporary armistice

No bullets in our guns

Just one more night of Christmas

Maybe we can work it out and start anew

Then one more night of Christmas

Will do”

The band called Citizens are no strangers to phenomenal Christmas music. I’ve written about them crafting my personal favorite Christmas song of all – you can find that here.

They also have one of the more unique Christmas songs in their catalog. Its called “One More Night Of Christmas” and it captures the longing for Christmas to last just a bit longer.

The song is a recognition of the tension we feel in our everyday lives, the December 26th of it all… versus the joy and hope we can find in December 25. The repeating lyric in the song functions like a heartfelt request.

“Just one more night of Christmas

One more hopeful glow

The Sparks of light inside of us

Are brighter than we know

Just one more night of Christmas

If it means we get the best of me and you

Then one more night of Christmas

Will do”

No matter how amazing this Christmas is, the 26th is coming. The lights will have to come down eventually. The decorations must go back to storage soon. That question is going to find you.

Down here, Christmas doesn’t last. Even just “one more night of Christmas” can feel cathartic because it means delaying a return to normalcy.

However, the glory of Christmas for the Christian goes deeper. We know, for certain, that nothing down here lasts. The Bible makes clear that nothing temporal can fill the eternal void in our hearts. Nothing we can find or create down here “will do” for our searching hearts.

We must have more. We must have Christ.

And Christ has come down here. The hope in Christmas is that our Savior entered our world, lived in perfect obedience to the Father, died in our place to pay for our sins, and resurrected on the third day, just as He said He would.

“Just one more night of Christmas

One more round of bells

Angels singing from on high

Serving living water from the well

Oh, just one more night of Christmas

All the love we’re feeling now is ours to lose

So let Christmas be the light

That leads us through”

So, when that question comes around and you do indeed take down the Christmas lights, don’t let your heart be troubled. The Light of the world loves you and gave Himself for you. He is with you even now. Go ahead and have one more night of Christmas! Let the joy of the Lord take over your heart.

December 26th (and 27th, and 28th, and every other day) is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reflect His wonderful light to a world still in darkness. 

May your Christmas be blessed and joyous. May it be filled with joy, peace, comfort, love, hope, and worship. 

Want to check out past Christmas music devotionals?

Check out this

Or this

Thanks for reading.  Your comments and insights are always welcomed.  If you enjoyed this, please share it.  Want more content?  Check the archives, my youtube channel, or listen to me on the Cross-Cutting Culture Podcast.