Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world.
If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness,
because you will have the light that leads to life.” – John 8:12

 
“What now?” With the end of each season, most coaches ask themselves that question. Regardless of the sport, coaches spend a tremendous amount of time with their team. Practice, game prep, equipment issues, injuries, and constantly dealing with the unexpected. Our days are filled with a constant array of activity that go along with doing the job. When the last game is played, things tend to slow down a little. Usually we can catch our breath, introduce ourselves to our families again and catch up on those household chores we have neglected for the past few months. However, even when the season ends, we are still “Coach” and there will be many opportunities to impact others in our school and community.

Christmas can be like that too! Finding and wrapping the perfect gifts. Pulling all those decorations down from the attic knowing they’ll have to go back up there eventually. Christmas parties with friends and resolving to make a few changes in how we’ll live our lives in the coming year. When the Christmas season is over, we often ask ourselves the same question, “What now?” Hopefully Jesus has been the focus of our month long celebration. If that’s true, the real question we must ask is, “What will we do with the Christ Child?” Will we still let His light shine in our lives now that the celebration is over? Will we share His light with others with boldness and joy? Jesus is alive and He loves you. Will you put Jesus back up in the attic with all the Christmas decorations or will you keep the spirit and share the gift of His love all year long?  

Heavenly Father, as a new year begins, don’t let me box You up with the Christmas decorations. Let me be a light that shines for You every day. Amen.