CONNECTING WITH OTHERS AT CHRISTMAS

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Most of the connecting we do with others at Christmas is in the happy times.

But many are not happy. Many are suffering for one reason or another.

We need to remember the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Cor. 1:3-4 when he reminded us of one of the reasons we suffer, “[God] comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.”

Being there for others—that’s what it’s all about.

Betsie ten Boom reminded her sister Corrie just before her death in the Ravesbruck concentration camp: “[We] must tell people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here.”

“Because we have been here.” Ah yes, most of us have. Let’s reach out together to help those who are going through hard times. Let’s say, “Merry Christmas” and mean it!

4 comments:

Kelly said...

I try to make this a part of our Christmas each year. I listen to people and try to reach out and lend a helping hand or just over love and support where I see a need.

God Bless You This Christmas, Clif.

SmilingSally said...

It is hard to remember that not everyone is humming.

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Monday I took a neighbor, who's husband died in August, to a luncheon here in our neighborhood. What was supposed to be about two hours ran into five hours! I had many other plans and about a million things to do (before a party here the next day) but the Lord had other plans. I just had to eliminate several things I wanted to do, and do only the things I had to do!

She is very distraught and the holiday is making it worse. I hope our time together somehow helps. She refuses any invitations to Christmas dinner. Her mother is very ill and she won't leave her. I worry about her, and pray for her.

Katherine

Kathi~Lavender, Lace and Thyme said...

Wonderful thoughts Clif! I see many hurting hearts during the holidays. People may be hurting for one reason or another. As a Christian, it's important to reach out to those in need.