I think about the seasons that are coming upon us. This is my favorite time of year. Thanksgiving and Christmas displays are everywhere you turn these days. I really like holidays. They are times when people share conversation, laughter, dinners, and gifts.Although I look forward to my time with family and friends, there are some concerns. What if someone doesn’t like what they get as a gift? What if the dinner I prepare is not to everyone’s liking? What will I do in these situations? The thought came to me that it really is a matter of the heart, so I guess we all need to check our “Tudes” (that’s slang for attitude).
I remember a song we used to sing in my home church in NYC years ago, “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.” In this song it says, “Give thanks unto the Holy One for He’s given Jesus Christ His Son.” If we are grateful to God for what He has done for us, and given us, then everything else shouldn’t really matter. We can enjoy one another’s company and thank God for family and friends, no matter how big or small our gatherings are or the contents of a gift.
Jesus is the best gift we could ever receive or give. When we bow our heads to give thanks over a big fat turkey, a juicy ham, or a small chicken, pernil (pork for us Puerto Ricans) or when we open a gift, we need to have our hearts right with God and be grateful.
There will be so many people this year facing an empty place at their tables some may not even be able to afford a Christmas tree. We need to pray for those families and then our wants won’t be such a big concern. There are people fighting for their lives and praying for protection over in the Middle East and at home.
Every year most of us say we will have a change of heart and be more loving and giving. NOW IT’S TIME! I recently went to see a Christmas Carol in the movies and I cried. I love all that stuff. Afterward my son said to me, why did you cry? I said because I love it when people remember to be kind, get in the Spirit of Christmas and show love toward one another. He said “Yeah, but that shouldn’t be once a year!”. My son the philosopher! I wholeheartedly agree. That is what I hear the Lord say in my spirit as I pray for others near and far. It’s time to be concerned for others. We should reach out in any way we can. It isn’t that any of us want to be selfish or into ourselves, but we have to try harder so that the world sees the compassion, the mercy, and the love of God. This is how they can get the best gift from us, “Jesus.”
He can be found wrapped up in a smile, an encouraging word, or a baked apple pie (ok for some a pie picked up from Publix, A&P or Fine Fare) for your neighbor. That will do wonders for you and them. I am going to work on an attitude adjustment and be more grateful. Will you join me? The season of giving is just around the corner.
But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God (2 Corinthians 2:14, 15 NLT).
