(Author’s note:  this article first appeared in the January 2020 edition of “The Cross and Tower” newsletter published by FUMC Winnfield)

It has been a successful and historic season for LSU football. As a passionate LSU fan and proud LSU Alum who witnessed one, count them, one, winning season during my three years at LSU (1992-1995), it is almost heaven to witness an undefeated regular season, a SEC Championship, many postseason awards, number one ranking, and a chance to win a national championship. Yet with those successes come high expectations. It would be a great season, but a disappointing one, if the Tigers fail to finish the season strong and come up short in the college football playoff. They must finish what they started.

So it is with Christmas. Christmas, with all of it’s wonder and cheer, wise men and shepherds, poinsettias and lights, and the wonderful gift of Jesus, God’s only son, is only the beginning. We cannot leave Jesus in the manger. The one born on Christmas grows to be a great teacher and leader, was crucified and buried for our sins, then rose on the third day, and now He lives in us. We remember and celebrate all of these facets of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection through the Christian year, which begins with Advent instead of a calendar that reads January 1.

My encouragement to the LSU Tigers is to finish strong! Play hard! Finish what you’ve started.

My encouragement to you and I after Christmas is to finish strong! Watch Jesus grow. Listen to his teachings. See him die for you and me. Witness the empty tomb. Watch for his return. Spread the good news about Jesus. It is our task to finish what Christmas has begun.

I found this Christmas poem by Howard Thurmon many years ago and it has become a favorite of mine.
The Work of Christmas
When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and the princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among brothers, To make music in the heart.

GEAUX TIGERS! Finish strong!

Go Christian! Share the good news about Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection!

Finishing Strong,
Kevin Smith