'Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house,
Mom was depressed and Dad felt like a louse.
The children were listless; they were having no fun.
Their Christmas had lacked magic and now it was done.
Sound familiar? If so, then you're facing that common and most perennial of problems: the dreaded "post-holiday blues." But hey; don't panic and don't despair. There are cures available.
Number one cure? Some post-holiday sadness is inevitable as in the case where loved ones who returned home for Christmas have now had to fly back to Detroit, or wherever. The tears in your eyes, which arise from looking at your empty dining room, are natural. There's not much for it except to be patient and to be grateful for the time you did have. Indeed, thanksgiving is a key part of this cure. Let the Lord know your appreciation for the blessing that family and friends have been in your life. Enjoy the memories and look forward to God's using you to be a blessing to your loved ones and to others He brings your way. Pray for peace in your soul; find comfort in the Scriptures and in service; and resolve to do what you can now do to keep in frequent contact with those who are now absent from your side.
Cure number two, however, deals more specifically with those whose Christmases weren't all they had hoped for. In such cases, the post-holiday blues usually come more from dashed hopes or misplaced affections. The cure here centers on a fresh discovery of the full meaning of Christmas itself. Remember your Dickens? Getting on with the "business of mankind" through kindness, loyalty, and hope was the way the converted Ebenezer Scrooge learned to keep Christmas all year long. No post-holiday blues for him. Even better examples are the magi who sought not a season or a specific holiday, but rather a living King to worship and serve. You and I can overcome the post-holiday blues by engaging in the great quest those wise men did. They recognized that it's not the day; it's the duty that's important -- the duty of correctly, consistently serving Jesus Christ.
