Bountiful Blessings
November
18th, 2012
Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. What?
Thanksgiving. Ohhhh. That would explain why everyone has been daily posting
about what they are thankful for on facebook. Gee and here I thought we went
straight from Halloween to Christmas. Oh yes, wonderful Christmas. Nativity
scenes, Christmas lights, 24/7 Christmas music on Magic 96, Black Friday sales.
I love it. Every single second of it. Problem is, and a big problem it is. I
get a little manic-depressive. One minute I am flying high on a state of
euphoria and the next I have crashed to the ground in a fiery blaze. For some
this condition is medical and I am so sorry that they must experience this in
their daily lives. For me, it is …. Christmas. Christmas shopping (crazy eyed,
loss of control, flushed face). Balancing checkbook (tears, no light at the end
of the tunnel). Sigh. There is really nothing to say, is there?
So. For me probably more than you. This week is a
little Christmas reminder about finances. I have touched on it before but it
needs reiterating. Christmas is about sharing love in celebration of the birth
of Christ. I know this. It is the most important part of the holiday for me.
Only problem is that I get caught up in the giving. I do not care about my
gifts. It is all about what I can do for others. Huh???!! Despite my best
intentions, I have lost sight of what is truly important. Who am I helping by
bankrupting myself over Christmas gifts? What kind of message am I passing
along by giving and giving and giving. Sounds great but really? No. No, its
not. I am commercializing the holiday. I am teaching my child that the gifts
are the important part. (Thankfully I have an awesome daughter who sees past
her mother’s imperfections. Sees them and does not try to duplicate them).
Doesn’t matter if my heart is in the right place. Giving of my time? Great.
Giving of my love? Great. Giving to others in need? Great. Buying out the
store? Not so great.
Each year, I promise to be more responsible. Each
year, I struggle with my intentions. Big sigh. But on a brighter note, the
Christmas card campaign? Mailed out over 1000 Christmas cards to the soldiers.
How awesome is that??!! 1000 cards!!! Everyone, thank you. See that is what
Christmas giving is truly about. Take away the gift cards, the hundreds of
presents, the wrapping paper and bows. It is that special gift. The one that
came from your heart. The macaroni picture that read “I love you” from your 20
year old daughter. (Yes, that continues to be one of my favorites.) The bunk
beds I purchased for a friend years ago and had delivered from “Santa”. The
gift baskets of food for a couple of needy children at a friend’s school. Those
gifts. Those are the ones that count. The others? Well, those are the icing on
the cake. Today, I want to ask you for something weird. Maybe weird is not the
right answer but you get the picture. I ask each of you to consider a new
tradition for your children. Each Christmas I donate money in Summer and Chad’s
name to a charity of their choice. They get to pick. Not much money. Enough to
substitute a small gift. For example, they have given money for a soccer ball
for a child overseas and money to feed and board a dog at the Humane Society.
Im not sure what their choice is this year. Important lesson for all of us. I
have been blessed. Christmas is a wonderful time for me to “pay it forward”.
Bible
verse for the week:
Every
man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God
which He has given you. Deuteronomy 16:17
Prayer
for the week:
Dear
Lord,
I
have been blessed in life. I have my health, my family, a roof over my head and
food on my table. Please help me to share my bounty with others. Show me how to
open my heart to those in need. Guide me to the right people. I ask to be your
willing servant - to serve others and give generously. In Jesus’s name. Amen
Bible
fun for the week:
Unscramble:
Od
ton glctene ot od dogo dan ot resha twah oyu ehva, rof chus fscrseaiis rae
lpaeisgn ot doG. Hebrews 13:16
Trivia:
How
many books are in the Bible? Old Testament? New Testament?
What
is most likely the first gospel written?
Who
was Jesus’ famous cousin?
What
book of the Bible did Jesus directly write?
What
New Testament book has the Sermon on the Mount?
How
many tribes did ancient Israel have?
How
many disciples were chosen?
What was the shortest book in the Bible?
What
is the longest book in the Bible?
In
what language was most of the Old Testament given?
In
what language was most of the New Testament given?
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