Change and Adapt never find a resting place. They enter our lives every day and cause us to re-invent traditions and follow new paths. With our children now having children of their own, our Christmas continues to be changing. When you add great-grandchildren to our family, even more changes affect traditions.

I still recall a special Christmas when we were with our four-year-old grandson, James Wesley (now 12 years old). He was growing more and more restless as presents continued to multiply under the tree. “WHEN can we open presents?” he asked me on the last day of the big countdown.

“Tomorrow! You can open your presents tomorrow!” I answered. That wasn’t exact enough. “When is tomorrow?” he asked immediately.

I don’t remember exactly how I answered his sobering question, but I wanted to pull him aside, turn his eyes to me as I fixed his face to mine and say, “Tomorrow never comes.”

That was purely a fantasy response for his age but in reality a great truth that I hoped to instill in him. Tomorrows never come and yesterdays are gone and irretrievable. Today is all we have. God is good and merciful to remind us of that in His Word.

The shepherds trembled in fear when they were given the good news about Christ’s birth, “For unto you is born this day (TODAY) news of great joy that will be for all people.”

A “tomorrow” answer wouldn’t have brought nearly the comfort of the “today” answer that Jesus gave to the thief hanging beside Him on the cross. “Today, you shall be with me in paradise.”

It’s the enemy that thrives on using the “tomorrow” word:  Wait ’til tomorrow to do what we know needs addressing today. Put off until tomorrow your salvation questions. Live for the world today and tomorrow you can live like a believer.

Calendars should never dictate when we celebrate Christmas. The news of the birth of our Savior is good news for today! And praise God, Change and Adapt will never alter that truth! Merry, Merry Christmas

Camille Anding, The Daily Leader, P. O. Box 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602.