It's a time excitement, laughter, anticipation & joy.... Christmas parties full of fun, family members visiting, big feasts, we sing along with Andy Williams....
"It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"
It's the most wonderful time (big finish) of the year"It doesnt take long for us to forget all this wonderful stuff this time of the year...
Just hop in your car the before Thanksgiving or the day after Thanksgiving and you'll see.
There always seems to be more cars on the road doesnt there? With horns honking at each each other because the vehicle in front of them didnt move fast enough at the light changing green. The parking lots are packed, be it a grocery store or the mall. You're driving up and down aisles getting more and more agitated with every turn, with every parking spot that appears to be open only to find that its smaller car in that slot... uuugggghhhhhh.
When that spot comes open pray there isnt another car trying to get that same spot as you... watch out! Yelling, posturing inside your own vehicle for the space, "I was here first!"
Then inside the store. Jam packed with people and carts and baby strollers and young children seemingly with zero self control and the parents have given up at this point.
The check out lines grow and grow every second you continue to shop.... so the rush is on, "gotta get done, gotta get done" fast so we can come to an abrupt stop waiting in that line ourselves.
Then the person ahead of you in line has 162 items to buy... uuuggggghhh.
Then they start bickering about the price of one of those 162 items. "Price Check needed at the register" is called out over the loud speaker.... uuuugggghhhh!
What happened to the magic of the season? Why are we scoffing and rolling our eyes at other people this time of the year more than any other it seems? How come nobody is approaching me this 'hap happiest season of all' smiling and saying "Be of good cheer"?
We just get caught up in the craziness of the season, so we can sit down at the Thanksgiving feast or relax during the unwrapping session Christmas morning and all is well.
But getting there, getting to that moment can get pretty ugly during the most wonderful time of the year.
So how about this...
What if you and I purpose to be different this year.
What if we decide, right now not to get grumpy. Not to roll our eyes at others... choose not to get frustrated with everyone else and all that is happening in the scurry?
Choose to be different..... aaahhhhhh... the separator. To be different than those of the world.
Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34,35
Love others. This is the separator. So what if during those crazy, insane moments of the holiday season, if we didnt fall into the rhythm of everyone else but chose to love, be kind, allow the fruit of the Spirit to dominate in your life..... then people will know.
They will know somethings different. You are different from others.
What comes of that is up to God. That's His deal. He just tells us to love them.
So this holiday season, give up the parking spot, give up your place in line, ask how you can help the single parent with 3 kids running around and any other opportunities that could arise... take them!
Show them how you're different :)
"Be of good cheer"
