So in the long saga of our magnificent Christmas tree this year, how long can we let it grace our living room before they send in the psych squad? Of course nothing says we couldn’t leave it up all year, but soon, it will start to dry and drop its needles. I’m thinking about the legitimate outer limits of an extended Christmas. (Too far and the neighbors will start to wonder.) Some people wait until Epiphany, but that was January 6. Then a few wait until the traditional date of Christ’s baptism which is thought to be the third Sunday after Christmas, which this year was January 14. (We missed that one, too.) So I guess that leaves the last possible option as Candlemas, which this year is February 2. I have heard that some people keep their Christmas decorations up until then. That would make it legitimate. Two more weeks, then. Dare we leave it up?

Last night, Marti gave me the job of unplugging the lights on the tree. She said she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Why? Because, especially at night, the lights are the grandeur of the tree. And when you think of it, it’s the lights that carry the message of Christmas — the heavenly angels illuminating the night sky; the bright star that led the way for the wise men; the light that pierced the darkness and streamed in on where the baby lay; Christ Himself, though yet a baby, still bearing the truth that He is the light of the world.

No wonder Marti didn’t want to pull the plug on all that.

And then there are the gifts that accumulate under the tree. Though they have been opened on Christmas Day, the tree still carries the promise of more surprises under its branches. (We are working on coming up with one last gift for Chandler.) And that should remind us that in terms of gifts and gratitude, it’s always Christmas. That’s a tree you don’t want to ever take down.