No more ice cream!?

Yesterday I finished off two boxes of our holiday ice cream! Relax, I used a small dessert bowl and there was just one ice cream scoop sized dip of in each box. What's Christmas without Peppermint Stick and Candy Cane ice cream!!?? The delectable taste was thoroughly enjoyable, I savored each spoonful as our grand-daughter Allie played in the living room.

This morning I had a reality check: no more ice cream (at least not the seasonal flavors we've come to enjoy) ... it was a symbolic gesture that the holiday season is officially over. Is it over? What does it mean that the Christmas season is over?

• Will there be no more special foods (the comforting flavor of peppernutten dissolving on my tongue ...) to enjoy and tempt me?
• Will the "joy" we express by being friendlier be boxed up and placed in storage for 11 months?
• Will the priority of family time take a back seat to the demands, expectations and stresses of the job?
• Will the slower pace with time for reflection and rest disappear quickly like the beautiful wrapping on gifts?
• Will the wonder of God's love - coming to his creation as one of his created - slide to the back of my mind?
• Will the nagging reality (and some guilt) of broken relationships which haunt me at Christmas time and keep me from complete joy leading me to consider the difficult yet sweet work of reconciliation disappear like the last spoon of ice cream?
• Will the opportunity for spontaneity be replaced with the mundane routines of each day?
• Will generosity and the joy of giving extra to others disappear and a return to self-survival return?
• Will grand-children running, singing, sleeping, crying, disappear from my week?
• Will my tendency, my sin, of self-centeredness take the place of seeing others first?
• Will worship of our Redeemer, our Way of Life, Jesus continue with the needed creativity and freedom as we celebrate a familiar story (at least we'd like to believe we know it so well)?
• Will I still hold the hand of my friend? Will I still freely hug?
  

So, next trip to the grocery store I'm looking for the seasonal flavors of ice cream. I won't find peppermint stick ... but are there any presidential inauguration flavors, how about MLK flavors, OK I may have to wait until February 14th! Until then ... I resolve to keep the Christmas spirit!