Wednesday, December 1, 2010

December 2nd

Before I start my post I wanted to thank Laura for hosting Thankful Thursday last month and Iris for hosting us this month. I am so thankful for you ladies!


It's December and I can't help but be thankful for Jesus' birth. Not just for His birth, but for the fact that my family celebrates His birth instead of everything else during this time of year. While others are out fighting in stores over who gets the last Tickle-Me Elmo (or whatever it is this year), we are celebrating the birth of our Savior, who says it is better to give than to receive. How wonderful it is to give to others. I am so thankful that we have the opportunity to witness to others with our attitudes this time of year. For the opportunity to share Christs love with others when we are out in all the holiday hustle and bustle.

I am thankful for the story of Christ's birth being recorded in the Bible. Having read it so many times, there is still always something new. Today I read in a book (Why the Nativity?) about how crowded Bethlehem would have been because of the census. I can't help but to think that the streets would have been crowded with people trying to get where they were going, pushing and shoving to make good time, much like the isles of our shopping centers are at this time of year. I am thankful for this new imagery that I have to relate to in my mind when I go into the crowded stores. Thinking about how the crowds filled the streets that night, no one offering Mary and Joseph a room, will help me to be mindful of my own attitude in the stores. I am not a crowd person by nature, I prefer less crowded places and easily get stressed out. But being able to imagine Mary and Joseph on that night so long ago, being pushed and shoved, and turned away might be the best thing ever. Instead of getting frustrated with others who shove me aside, or cut me off, I can in turn still allow the person next to me, who was also cut off, to go before me. Instead of giving what I got, I can focus on loving others. After all, Christ came while we were still sinners to die for our sins. Not just mine, but all of the shoppers. The ones cutting me off and the ones who are also being mistreated. How much joy will it bring to them to have someone show them love in the midst of the madness and selfishness? Only God knows, but I am thankful for the opportunity to possibly share His love with them. The opportunity to become the least, and let them go before me.



Join me in posting 25 Christ centered Christmas songs this month. The goal is to post a Christian Christmas song each day (no songs about Santa, Christmas trees or anything like that). Are you up for the challenge?

4 comments:

  1. I thrilled to read your post and how your family is on the same page... It's all about Jesus. Also what a neat thing to do with the Christmas songs. I have some really great ones. Some are eclectic and some fun. Hugs and happy TT.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am so thankful for our Lord too for coming into this world, lived a humbled life, died to save us from sins and for His resurrection and intercession for us now. Without Him, I don't know what will have become of me! Thanks for visiting my blog. Happy Thankful Thursday to your too!

    Warm regards,
    Nancie

    ReplyDelete
  3. We're really all thankful that God gave us His Son.:)

    Thanks for dropping by. Happy Thursday! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a wonderful thing to reflect, i also don't like crowded places, here in China some people would really cut you off, seems like they're always in a hurry, oftentimes it pissed me off. Thank for sharing this, the next time someone cut me off, i will remember what you said here.

    Happy TT
    Jhunnelle

    ReplyDelete