Have you ever had a toy spinning top?
Some of you more “mature” readers may remember these. They are now called “retro”! hahahha I loved these tops. You pull on the lever and pump it getting the toy top to spin faster and faster. It’s so fun pumping up the spinning mechanism and watching it twirl around with excitement!
But the spinning gradually slows down and eventually comes to a halt. Christmas time can be that way, can’t it? We build up for weeks decorating, purchasing, wrapping, baking, cleaning and visiting with our family and friends as we are spinning with excitement and joy! Then it slows down and gradually comes to a halt. The Christmas-hype is over.
One of my favorite Hallmark movies is “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”. Jennifer is just going through the motions of Christmas and says to her new friend, Morgan, “I will be glad when Christmas is over”. Morgan, who loves Christmas and reminds Jennifer of her childhood excitement at Christmas, says “December 26 is the saddest day of the year”.
We may feel that way, too. Work time off is either over or winding down. Kids are tired of new toys and dreading to go back to school. Schedules and “old normal” are rearing their ugly heads. For some, true depression starts to set in as the excitement of Christmas is over and the darkness of winter days appear.
But it doesn’t have to be that way! We need to start the new year with a positive spin. We too can be like the retro toy top! We can still be full of spinning excitement for EACH new day! When we understand the true meaning of Christmas, that Jesus came to earth for us, then we can truly live each day full of the spirit of Christmas.
Reality says that we cannot live pumped up like a fast spinning top every day. We will wind down and can’t always be positive, but what we have available to us for the taking is the one that can fill us with His Spirit and get us full of the spinning excitement again.
As the new year approaches, I encourage you to think about the excitement of the toy top’s spin. The fun of pumping up the spinning mechanism and watching it twirl with excitement. I want you to be filled with the spinning excitement of living each day with and for Jesus. And even though the commercial excitement of Christmas is over just like the winding down of the spinning top, we can keep it going by showing Christ’s love to others all year-long.
We just need to keep pumping ourselves up with God’s word, prayer, worship and daily encouragement. And when we feel ourselves winding down and falling flat, reach out to the One who can get you pumped up with excitement again. Let’s vow to try and start each day with a POSITIVE SPIN!
