John 1:1

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”"

Lillian Daniel

Christmas day has passed, and now we are left with the wrapping paper, the empty boxes and perhaps a few empty hearts. For some people, yesterday may have been a delightful feast of love and giving. Others may look back on the day we are all supposed to look forward to with a little relief that it's over. Are we allowed to say that? Can we be honest and admit that sometimes the big day is not as joyful in real life as we want it to be?

This first verse from the gospel of John reminds us that our big days and calendars are really of little importance to the God who created us. God existed before time itself. So while we human beings may lift up one day over another, God is consistently present in every day. God was even there before we were here to count our days.

Prayer

Dear God, help me to understand that no single day gets to have the last word. At the end of a good day, or at the end of a bad day, you are with me, as you always have been and always will be. Amen.

About the Author Lillian Daniel is the senior minister of First Congregational Church, Glen Ellyn, Illinois. She is the co-author of This Odd and Wondrous Calling: the Public and Private Lives of Two Ministers and author of the upcoming When "Spiritual But Not Religious" is Not Enough.

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