NO SELF-LOATHING ALLOWED
by Sean Griffith
One of my most cherished Christmas memories could have been my worst. I was a young adult living in North Carolina and spending Christmas ALONE. This was a perfect opportunity for self-loathing. It didn’t seem fair that everyone else was home with families, singing Christmas carols in front of an elaborately decorated Christmas tree, being warmed by the roaring fire as their taste buds danced with glee to the flavor of mom’s special eggnog (that’s how it played in my mind anyway).
Rather than spend the day staring at a scarcely decorated Charlie Brown Christmas tree, I decided to buy gifts for the families at my current employment. Many of them were barely making it financially and I knew the gifts would be most welcomed. I had an absolute blast visiting the families and sharing the love of Christ through simple gifts, and sharing the significance of Christmas. I will most likely forget many of the great gifts I have received through the years, but I’ll never forget that memory!
No matter where you find yourselves financially or relationally this year, keep your eyes out for opportunities to bless others and as you do so, you might be surprised how much you are blessed in return!
Phil 2:1-4
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
