Holidays & Traditions

It's safe to say that the

Holiday Season

is officially upon us.

 

Some enter into it after

Labor Day,

on

Halloween or Thanksgiving,

and some on

Black Friday.

 

And in some cultures,

NONE of these even exist.

 

Some cultures focus on

and celebrate holidays like

Hannukah,

Ramadan,

and

Kwanzaa.

 

Some celebrate their holiday

as a mandate from God

and call all others evil.

 

But holidays are really about

human traditions.

 

Each holiday marks something

relevant and significant

to its culture.

 

So,

we can either spend our days

being offended by those who

believe and celebrate

differently than we do,

OR

we can spend our days

being kind, encouraging and uplifting

to our fellow man.

 

Because,

like it or not,

the fact of the matter is,

we are ALL children of God.

 

He loves every single one of us

regardless of which holiday

we choose to celebrate.

 

And folks,

December 25

is not Jesus' birthday.

 

But if you choose to celebrate it as such,

that's okay.

And if not,

that's okay too!

 

 

So,

Everyone!!!



Thanksgiving

 

 

Today serves as a reminder

that thankfulness is

a state of mind

~a way of life.

 

And for those who are feeling

 stressed out

and pressured

because of what society has turned this day into,

I pray for Peace to cover you,

fill you,

and seep into your very being.

 

 

 

 



What Else My Mom Taught Me

I couldn't let my mom's birthday go by

without writing something

in her honor.

 

 

As I have been thinking much about her lately

there are a couple of recurring things that come to mind.

 

One is that my mom was an extremely forgiving person.

She literally lived out,

"Forgive them seventy times seven,"

several times over.

 

She forgave many people of many things;

rudeness, meanness, pettiness, hurtfulness,

stupidity, cruelty, abuse, slander,

judgementalism...

the list goes on.

 

And she never seemed to hold a grudge.

 

Perhaps it was because in the back of her mind

she was well aware of the many things of which

God had forgiven her.

 

If she were here right now,

she would argue that she wasn't

as forigiving as I am making her out to be.

She would say that she didn't always "feel" forgiving.

But I know what I saw,

and what I saw, repeatedly, was

 a woman who forgave.

 

Another thing about her that keeps coming to my thoughts

is how generous she was.

 

My goodness that woman was a giver!

 

I don't think anything brought her more joy than

giving to others.

Gifts on birthdays, holidays, and just because days;

a loan because you needed it

and then "forgiving" the loan

 (you didn't have to pay it back);

donations for the needy, food for the poor;

compassion for those without compassion...

 

She gave whatever was needed whether she knew you or not.

 

And never was her generosity driven by selfishness.

She didn't give because she ever

expected anything in return.

She gave, simply, because she was

generous!

And always, in her heart,
was the desire to give more.

 

It's amazing that when I think about these things,

I see how easily she lived out these qualities

 which are the very nature

of God.

 

Her example of

unconditional Love

overwhelms me.

 

And even though my mom and I

were different in many ways,

I am thankful

that we are also alike

in so many ways.

 

 

She was, truly,

 an exceptional woman.

 

Happy Birthday mom!

I love you forever.

 



The Poor Dilemma

It is interesting that Jesus said

to take care of the poor,

to offer a drink to those who are thirsty,

to feed those who are hungry,

and to give your coat to someone who is cold

(your shirt too if needed).

 

 

Yet, these days,

when people are presented with the needs of others,

they pause,

as if they've been presented with some great dilemma

and respond with words like,

"Let me pray about it and ask God if I am supposed to help".

 

But it seems pretty simple;

if we have been made aware of a need,

then we're supposed to help.
Period.



Down to Basics

If we got down to the basics,

which Jesus said are

loving God and

loving others,

we would

~ Change the World.

 

 

Loving God, truly,

(with all of our soul, mind and strength)

brings about a NATURAL compulsion toward

grace, love, empathy and compassion;

which is loving others

(truly, as God does).

 

It becomes as natural as breathing.

 

If we lived out the Basics,

the world, 

 - humanity -

would be united

and, thus,

be known for its

Love.



Wasted Compassion

Compassion without action

is meaningless waste of emotion.

 

God has implanted within us

the feeling of compassion

so we would be moved into action.

 

If someone is sad, I give them a smile;

if lonely, a hug, text message, phone call, card or visit;

if cold, a coat;

if hungry, a meal;

if broke, a dollar (or more);

if hopeless, Hope...

 

 

If a feeling of compassion fills my heart

and I do nothing to act upon it,

that compassion is

 meaningless waste of emotion.