Christmas

I woke up too early this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. So I got up, and eventually was rewarded with a beautiful, quiet Christmas sunrise pinking the sky. It was my first grateful moment of the day, welcome after a very emotionally difficult Christmas Eve. As unbearable as yesterday was, knowing I would not see my daughters this Christmas, today has been peaceful. My point is that our negative feelings can be overpowering, but they aren't forever. If we can wait it out, joy is very near. There is joy to be had, in spite of grief and disaster. Reach out for it. Joy to the world.

Give What Matters

As we enter the season of gift-giving, it's so easy to get caught up in the material aspect of it all. Here it is: the time of year we celebrate the greatest Gift we've ever been given, freedom from trying to find peace and happiness through acquiring more and more things so that we can find deep joy and healing in Christ--and what do we do? Stampede into stores at 3 a.m., elbowing each other out of the way; cut each other off in parking lots; get depressed because we have gone into debt to get the newest latest things.

George Macdonald had it right when he wrote, "If instead of a gem or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give." The presents and parties are nice, and I hope you have plenty of them, but the greatest gift you have to give your family and friends is the gift of your time. The best present is your presence. Give what matters this year!