Holiday Hope

The energy of the holidays is beginning to fill the air and for most of us, its a time of joy and excitement. Decorating the tree, putting up the lights, buying presents and spending time reflecting on the blessings in our lives are just a few of the things we look forward too. But not everyone has that same sense of anticipation. For those who are grieving or hurting, the holidays can just be a stark reminder of what they don't have. Maybe this is the first year they are facing the holidays without the one they love. Perhaps you know someone who is battling an illness or recently lost their job. Perhaps your friend or neighbor is walking through a divorce and is feeling a huge sense of loss; I'm guessing we all know someone whose family lives far away and they won't get to spend the holidays with the ones they love. It could be, you know a family who fears the holidays because there is so much pressure to buy the "right" gifts and there just isn't any extra money. While I don't think we should "dumb" down our excitement and joy this holiday, I think we do need to be sensitive to those around us that are hurting, grieving and lonely.

If you know someone who the above paragraph describes, let me encourage you to reach out to them; not just assuming that someone else will. Send a card or gift, pick up the phone and call, visit them, spend the afternoon letting them talk and cry, take them groceries. Show extra grace. Don't discount their grief, don't ignore them, don't assume someone else will reach out. You may say, "I don't have any extra money to spend on anyone." Most times, showing love has nothing to do with money.  It costs nothing to be there for someone. The verse "Love as I have loved you" (John 13:34-35) keeps going through my mind.  This is a commandment that Jesus gave, not just a suggestion. He commands us to love others as He loved us. The end of that verse says, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." If the world knows that we are Christians by the love we show each other, it makes me wonder what they see. Do they see us always complaining or fighting, disgruntled with everything; or do they see us showing love to the hurting and broken, the lost and lonely?  

If we all do our part this holiday season to show love and offer what we have, small as it may be; what a difference it will make. Even if you reach out to just one person, one family; you have the potential to make the holidays brighter. Think of the domino affect it could have if we all did what we could. Let's show this world that we are Christians by the way that we love, honor and serve each other.

Sarah