When Christmas Is Over

"When Christmas Is Over" is a mini-story that is part of the EMPATH: The Luckiest Smurf story series.

The Story
It was during the time of Smurfette's first Christmas with the Smurfs, when Empath was still away in Psychelia, when after New Year's Day she noticed that her fellow Smurfs were taking down all the Christmas decorations that they have festively adorned the village with. Her heart sank as the garlands were being removed, the wreaths were taken from the doors, the mistletoe taken from over the doorposts, and the ornaments for the tree were carefully removed one by one. It was as if the season of joy was now officially over and everything is now back to the way it used to be before the season began, except that there was still snow on the ground.

She went to visit Tapper, who was in his tavern restoring everything to its original appearance. "Smurf o' the morning to you, my dear Smurfette," Tapper greeted as she entered. "What may I smurf for you on this fine morning now that we're in the new year?"

"I was just smurfing at all the Christmas decorations being smurfed down all over the village and wondering if that will be all we will ever smurf of Christmas, Tapper," Smurfette said.

"Ah, yes, I can imagine you might ask some Smurf that," Tapper said. "All we're smurfing is just smurfing down decorations that mark such a season that we should celebrate, Smurfette. That does not mean that we should stop celebrating what the season is really all about."

"But if that's true, then why can't there be Christmas every day of the year?" Smurfette asked.

"There can be, if we smurf to mind that Jesus Christ is born within the hearts of every person who believes in Him for salvation, Smurfette," Tapper said. "Scripture says that there is joy in heaven for every sinner that repents."

"There is joy in heaven?" Smurfette said. "I sure wish there would be joy here on earth for the same thing that happens."

"I wish for the same thing myself, Smurfette," Tapper said with honest feeling. "However, the world is still smurfed in darkness and prefers the darkness over the light because the people's deeds are evil. Scripture says those who practice evil hate the light and don't smurf to it because they fear that their deeds will be exposed."

"Does that mean that we Smurfs are still in darkness?" Smurfette asked.

"I'm afraid that, despite all the good deeds that we smurf in this world, all those deeds can't smurf past the fact that we are still smurfing in darkness, my dear Smurfette," Tapper said. "Jesus said that He smurfed as a light into the world, so that those who believe in Him should not remain in darkness."

To be expanded on.