If this were our last Christmas

If this were our last Christmas - and it could be.

  • We would not care about gifts received. We would not make wish lists nor encourage others to do so. We would make a list of the people we love, and think of one thing to give each person - one thing that would forever remind them of our love for them. We would give ourselves - our treasures - away.
  • Nothing would be "too much trouble." We would turn off mobile telephones, televisions, and computers. We would send Christmas cards. We would get out and about, we would go to parties, we would be the Christmas cheer in the middle of the chaos. We would jump at the chance to laugh with others rather than sit alone, comfortably, in the same old chair and in the same old room doing the same old things.
  • We would be hospitable because the Bible tells us that we must. We must open the doors of our homes and invite people inside to laugh and love and sing and play games and tell stories. And, if invited to embrace someone else's hospitality, well, we would.
If this were our last Christmas - and it could be
  • We would make a list of all those we've offended this year and we would apologize. We would aim to finish this year well. What's more, we would make a list of all those who have offended us, then we would tear up that list or burn it, and give complete amnesty to everyone. "You are forgiven" are the three most powerful words this side of "I love you" and really - they mean the same thing.
  • We would not get caught up in ridiculous cliche, especially battling over Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. We would relish the holiday greeting of a friend or acquaintance or stranger and we would respond with, "Thank you! God bless you and yours, and (Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or whatever else you want to say). We would celebrate joy regardless of the wording.
  • We would not worry about Christmas morning excitement cluttering our homes. We would not care one bit if wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and toys are scattered from one end of the house to the other. One day those homes will be quiet. If someone dropped their hot chocolate and it puddled all over the floor or sofa, we would not care - we would laugh and clean it up.
If this were our last Christmas - and it could be
  • We would gather those we love and tell them how much we love them. We would not wistfully mumble, "I love you" but we would say, "I love you and here's why - here's what you mean to my life." Tears might flow. What a blessing to know how and why and what you mean to another human being. Everyone should hear "I love you" from someone this Christmas.
  • We would reach outside our comfort zone and serve the poor - even the poor who have money or pretend they do. We would open our eyes to see the poor in spirit and those in pain, and we would gladly step into their pain with prayer, and service, and love, and sacrifice. We would pray each night, "Send the broken-hearted to me, Lord. I will love them."
If this were our last Christmas - and it could be
  • We would celebrate the baby Jesus and the redemption and restoration He alone provides, and our celebration of Him would be so fantastic and so public and so hearty that people would say of us, "He has Christmas in his heart" and they would know we are Christmas people because of our love for and reflection of our Savior.
Amen and Amen. www.scottdvaughan.com

Comments

  1. JeffersonLadyDecember 17, 2019 at 7:57 PM

    Thanks for this reminder of things most important. I pray I can continue to strive to remember what is really important. As my time on this earth grows shorter, it becomes easier to see. May I continue to see this more vividly. Thank you , Scott, as always, for words well written!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Barb ThompsonDecember 18, 2019 at 4:55 AM

    Amen Scott. Thank you !

    ReplyDelete

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