“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.”

You may have heard some version of this when watching any version of A Christmas Carol. This quote is spoken by Ebenezer Scrooge to the ghost of Christmas future, who shows him some quite unsavory realities that may come to pass if he does not change. I truly love this response from Scrooge to the ghost. It really makes me wonder how we can keep the honor of Christmas in our own hearts all year, especially when the Christmas season really only stays for such a short time. I find myself even taking down some of the Christmas decorations in my own house because, to put it bluntly, it just feels like those decorations get in the way.

But Christmas is a time when we can reorient ourselves to the beauty of life, of friends, and the many wonderful things that God has blessed us with. Maybe to keep the Spirit of Christmas alive all year round is to remember how beloved we truly are. Whether by friends and family, or by our Lord, who was born for our sake, Christmas truly is a time of joy. So Friends….Continue to carry the Spirit of Christmas wherever you go, knowing that you are beloved, no matter who you are or what you have done. And if you feel like Scrooge, remember it’s never too late to change.

God bless you!

Pastor Evan Meester, January 2026