I can't believe I'm going to say it, but I am thankful that Christmas is almost here. I LOVE this time of year. But today, I am just thankful that it's almost here. I love baking cookies, sending out cards, and just blessing others. I love hearing my boys talk about things they could give others, but for today I am saddened by the whole affair. I strive to keep Christ at the center of this holiday, but today I am feeling very selfish. I give to others because I enjoy it. I'm sure that is because of Christ living in me, but sometimes I feel selfish about giving what I want to give. I handed out a couple of my prettily packaged Christmas cookies to some homeless people yesterday, and they all but laughed in my face. They don't want cookies, they want cash. Not only do I not have cash to give them (we are a rather low income family), but if they were truly homeless I would think they would have enjoyed my cookies a little bit more. But the truth is that 50% of the homeless here in Denver are homeless by choice, 40% aren't really homeless at all, they just realize how much cash the homeless make in a day standing on a corner with a sign and decide it's an easy way to con people, and the other 10% really are homeless, because of circumstances beyond their control, and probably 5% of those have too much pride to hold up a sign asking for hand-outs. I am terribly sad that I can't do more for the homeless who really want and need help, but the others make me thankful that the holidays are almost over. Yes, they will still be there, but they are a little more grateful at other times of the year, because they aren't being so taken care of. One of the guys I saw yesterday had a whole stack of food that someone had bought him. He was blessed beyond measure, and all he said was 'Great. More food.' Then turned and walked away.
This holiday season is just showing me how much of a fallen world we live in (not just those around me, but I myself am sinfully flawed and quite ungrateful)and it makes me want to cry . So for today, I am thankful that Christmas is almost here. I'm thankful that life can go back to normal soon. I'm thankful that I will get to see my mom today. I'm thankful that my husband has next week off from work. I'm thankful that I get to meet one of my dearest friends in person for the first time next week (we have been friends online for 3 years!). And I am thankful that God loves me so much that sent His Son to die for my ungrateful heart.
To read more (hopefully more cheerful) thankful Thursday posts, please visit this months host, Iris, at her blog Grace Alone.
I'm also linking this up with MamaKat's writer's workshop in response to prompt #1: Write about a Christmas gift that was not well received, as my Christmas cookies were not. :(
I would love for you to join me by posting your favorite Christ centered Christmas song. My personal goal is to post a different Christ-centered Christmas song each day between now and Christmas. (The only rule is that it has to be Christ-centered. No songs about Santa, Christmas trees or whatever...)
That's one thing i was struggling with before, i need to give expensive gifts to others especially to my God-children, it's kind of tradition in our country, so after Christmas i felt guilty coz i spent all my bonuses and salary and haven't saved a single penny
ReplyDeleteI thank God for He changed my heart and thinking, i don't need to force myself or feel guilty when i couldn't afford to give.
Love the song that you posted.
May you have a blessed and wonderful CHRISTmas!
You have a tender heart. Have a blessed Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThe country where I come from..there are thousands of homeless. Just like you said, I've noticed that most of them are homeless by choice. One way of discouraging this, I thought was to stop giving to such people. I don't know if it will make a difference, if it will make them earn something to live.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy Christmas!
Although I am not basing my thoughts and feelings as much on Christ or religion as you do, I do see a lot of similarities in our thinking here.
ReplyDeleteI love giving to those I love, showing that I care about them. I do not care about how much I spend - usually I cannot spend a lot. But I always spend time thinking about it and creating something for them.
I started giving to people in need roughly 14 years ago and even then there were a lot of people on the street that did not really *need* help. So I started to offer them some bread. Those who took thankfully could usually could expect me to come back with more and different food. This is something what I still like to do this way.
Thank you for stopping by at my blog. Wishing you a happy christmas!
What a soft heart you have - I read your post and see only compassion and godly pity. God bless you and yours, and Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMy thankful post is HERE.
Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier this week. I'm glad I came by yours...this was a great post. Whether your gift was well received by the recipients really doesn't matter because your heart presented the gifts with sincerity and that's what matters. I too though will be glad when this season is over, the grouchiness of some people is a little much! Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great thankful list! Enjoy your visits with your mom and friend. How nice that your husband has the whole week off! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete