I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day and a truly great week coming to a close for you. Only 2 days (3 days counting today...you HAVE to always clarify this when you have a 6-year old in the house!) until Christmas Day...so hard to believe!
I want to encourage (translation = beg, plead, implore!) you to give the absolute greatest gift you can give to others for Christmas this year. It is one-of-a-kind...no one else will give this gift, I guarantee it. It is perfect, literally - fearfully and wonderfully made...I have a great Book that tells me this is true. This gift is quite unique in that it has a specific purpose(s) that can only be fulfilled by this gift...no other gift in all the world can do what this gift can do. Each and every one of us has enough money to give this gift...it is not limited by class, standing or circumstance. This gift, when given, will bring more joy, hope, peace and inspiration to others than any amount of money, any toy, any piece of jewelry or clothing. Please, this Christmas, give the greatest gift you can give...YOU!
Now, first let me say this...STOP IT! Please stop thinking about the mistakes, failures, faults, etc. in your life. I am not talking about who you wish you were, what you wish you were; I am talking about the pure, true, authentic, unique, fearfully and wonderfully made you! That, YOU, is incredibly special...indescribably so! Yes, I know that you have made mistakes, you have had failing moments, you have faults - trust me I know...I have a longer list than most to prove it (no comments please!). The you that you are is made in the very image of God, by Him, for a specific purpose that only you can fulfill. Why in the world do we want to change...perfection? Who ever told you that you were not good enough? That you had to be something different? That you had to look a certain way? That you had to act a certain way? That you...? According to the book of Truth and the Creator of the universe - the One whose Son's birthday we are celebrating by the way! - says that whoever that person was lied.
And please don't give it the old, "I'll try." We aren't talking about the type of commitment that the chicken makes to the breakfast here Friends, we are talking about the type of commitment that the pig makes to the breakfast - all in! See we get all caught up in the being right, being perfect, when I do this or that then I'll give them me, etc. What a bunch of junk we tell ourselves! "You" includes the mistakes, the failing moments, the faults. We hold ourselves to impossible standards - and then by our actions do the same to others - when in fact the mistakes, failing moments and the faults are part of what makes us so special. It is at those times - the times we try like crazy to avoid - that we have the biggest platforms to share with others. It is at those times we get to teach love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, accountability, responsibility, repentance, etc. Please no more, "I'll try." Just do and be you!
So you are thinking, "I've made too many mistakes, this person or that person would never forgive me or accept me, it's too late"...Well first of all, again, the book of Truth tells me that none of these statements are true. And I will tell you this, if you have the honor & privilege of being called husband, wife, dad or mom...those who call you by these names want you more than anything else in this world! Sure, jewelry, clothes, toys, electronic devices, etc. are nice however they are nothing - absolutely nothing! - compared to the true, pure, authentic, fearfully and wonderfully made YOU! Sadly some try to use these things to fill the void created by the absence of the greatest gift of all - YOU! Please, don't be one of those people! Please, this Christmas, give them you! I promise you that you will never regret it and those precious souls who call you husband, wife, dad or mom will shine and grow in ways that you could have never hoped, dreamed or imagined.
I want to share two quotes with you and let them speak to your heart however they will:
- "Remember that you are unique. If that is not fulfilled, then something wonderful has been lost." - Martha Graham
- "But I, being poor, have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your feet; tread softly, because you tread on my dreams." - William Butler Yeats
- Most - pretty sure I could say all - children, by definition are poor. Don't see 1 - 16 or 17-year old rich people walking around! Think about it....
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please give the greatest gift you can give and Merry Christmas!
Kev
I really liked this Kevin. It spoke to me personally and affirms what I tell parents all the time. I think in this media driven world, we allow it to pull our attention and ultimately give less of us. We watched the movie Super 8 just recently and it is set in the late 70s or early 80s. Immediately I was taken back to those days when I was kid and we were SO MUCH more "unplugged" back then. I think in this day and age, one of the ways we can give more of "ourselves" to those we love is to simply just "unplug" from our media culture.
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