A few weeks ago, our days were filled with excitement and joy, but January brings us the challenge of holding on to good cheer — especially when decorations are taken down and the bleak midwinter days are upon us.

As I finish up the last of my goose, which was delicious, and have exchanged the last gifts on Jan. 6, Epiphany, I now set to work packing away Christmas.

This year, though, I am not going to pack away joy. Rather, I have come to realize that January is our time to embrace the gift of the Christ light we have been given…and if we are to embrace that gift, then shouldn’t our January days be filled with light and love and fresh new eyes of seeing all of God’s beauty in the world?

And so, I invite you join me as I set out to have a different January, one that is just as festive and hopeful as December.

How do you keep holiday cheer going strong in January? I would love to hear from you!