A Great Time of Year to Be a Friend

Friends are truly priceless. To gain a friend takes some time. Those we may think are "friends" may not turn out to be the ones we can really trust and confide in as time continues. Acquaintances are not always friends. People we spend time around most are not always friends. Sometimes it seems as if I can count on two hands those who I would consider in this category. Those who would not be judgmental by an action I performed or offended by something I said. They would know me well enough to understand why I did or said the things I did.

One cliche my parents (probably my mom) always said was something like "You have to be a friend to have a friend." This time of year is a great time to experience that, whether it is to people you know or those you don't. That brings us to this week's quote...

Your friendship is a glowing ember
Through the year; and each December
From its warm and living spark
We kindle flame against the dark
And with its shining radiance light
Our tree of faith on Christmas night. ~ Thelma J. Lund

This time of year has a lot of opportunities to be a friend (or even a nice person) to people you are around. With all the shopping that is happening the "hustle and bustle" that takes place, why be the calm one? Why not wish others a "Merry Christmas" when they say "Have a good day" or "Thank you for shopping at ___."

Now it's your turn...how will you be a friend to someone this holiday season?

Catching Snowflakes

There are times that it is definitely fun to be a kid. The things you have the opportunity to do as a child that are taken away as you grow up. Last week, we were blessed to have a mild-temperature snow. It was super pretty coming down but didn’t stick to the ground. The kids were able to bundle up and go outside for a few moments. They played as the snow fell, but also they had the opportunity to catch some of the snowflakes on their tongue.

Ava made me laugh when she was looking up to catch snowflakes because she said the snowflakes went into her eye. So, she would look up and squint her eyes for just a few seconds to catch a few snowflakes and then wipe her eyes and face.

Oliver, as the picture shows, used his hood to shield his eyes from the snow falling. So he was able to stay in that position a bit longer while catching snowflakes. They both had a lot of fun for the few minutes they stayed out in the soft-falling snow.

Of course, I had to get in on the action, to show Ava how to do it. As I was tipping my head back and catching a few on my tongue, it made me feel like a kid for that ever-so-brief moment.

I am mystified by the fact that Jesus uses kids as illustrations. Sometimes we simply become so wrapped up in our own adult life that we forget what it is like to be a kid. No worries...no responsibilities...just be a kid. Being a kid can be fun and exhilarating! Take some time this week to be a kid - even if there are no snowflakes to catch!!

Coldness of Not Being Cared About

During the holidays a popular song that is sung is "Baby, It's Cold Outside".  And, lately it has been that, throughout most of the US.  People are trying to stay warm. Schools started late; churches canceled gatherings.  If I had to choose between cold and hot, even though I prefer about 75-80 degrees, I would choose cold.  At least you can put on more layers, but you can only take off so much to be cooler.  But sometimes, when in the cold, you can only put on so many layers.  The worst is when you feel cold on the inside, and "once you're cold, you're cold".  At this point it makes it very difficult to be warm again while in the cold.

However, if you were speaking in the realm of relationships, I would much rather be warmer than cooler.  Relationships are made to be warm to be positive.  Cold relationships are not a draw. 

With the weather being cooler this time of year, people aren't out as much. They naturally want to stay in, where it is warm.  Those same people have no warmth in their life, other than from a heater.  They are in need of a relationship.  Do you know people like that?  Are there people in your neighborhood like that?  Why not invite them over to a gathering at your house?  Maybe send them a card with a packet of hot chocolate in the envelope?

When people feel they're not cared about, they feel cold.  Let's be the type of Christians that can warm people up...as a song goes I sang years ago in my youth..."it only takes a spark to get a fire going"!

Let's warm people up!





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Give Light

Giving. A word that gives definition to this time of year. We give monies to charitable causes, we give of ourselves as we help others, and we give gifts to those we care about. Generally, when we give, we do not get back what we gave. The money spent is gone. The time devoted will never come back. You may receive a "good feeling" of helping out someone, but it still holds true that those things are never going to return.

This week's quote made me think about that concept. Something that is given, but doesn't lose a thing in return. The quote also made me think about this time of year as the days are shorter and the weather is cooler. Here is this week's quote...

A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. ~ Erin Majors

Isn't that an interesting concept? Here is something that is "given" away, but yet, doesn't lose anything.

A "candle" may be a host of things, which you can define what it is. It should mostly be defined as something that warms someone up or gives light to their dark path.

As this time of year brings about shorter days and cooler weather, give light to someone so that they can enjoy something that you have to give them.

Giving light...

Oh, What a Feeling...

Several years ago, Toyota came out with a slogan to describe what it was like to drive their cars. The slogan was, "Oh, what a feeling, Toyota." Do you remember?

God has either really been working in my life in a notable way over the past 6 months or I have just finally been attuned to His presence. Either way, I thank Him for making practically every day a day that I can say that being on His team gives me that "Oh, what a feeling" feeling!

I am sure that those Toyota cars became hot in the sun, cold in the winter, and their batteries eventually wore out. Sure, life as a Christian is not always cool in the sun, warm in the winter, and we never have days that are not as good as others. However, when you look back on your day may you think "Being with God is the best experience I could have had." What is the alternative? What would life be like with out God? I don't even want to think about it.

May you be able to look at each and every day as an "Oh, what a feeling" kind of day!