“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Hey Gang: When was the last time you shut down all the things that cloud your mind from looking at some of the more important things of life? Gar Trusley, who did time-studies for corporations, identified, in a large percentage of those he studied, the three top things they would do if the doctor said you have one month to live: seek the Lord and make sure they were in good relationship with the Lord, make sure they were in right relationship with spouse and family, and repair all the breaches that might exist between them and their neighbors.
It was interesting to note, that when he asked for the ten things that folks tend to invest their time and energies into, these three things were are the bottom of the list! In other words, they knew that the things that brought real joy into their heart was not making a buck, climbing the corporate ladder or becoming something super special in the eyes of man!
A recent study discovered that suicides are increasing by leaps and bounds each year and depression is the number one plague, among a growing number of our population. As we move God further from the life of our country, despair and hopelessness grow in equal proportion.
We go to great pains to fill the vacuum that is just the size of God in our chest cavity. We just experienced another “black Friday” when the world's retailers spread the good news that they have the very thing that will fill that vacuum. People lined up hours in advance to make sure they were the first in line to purchase that aphrodisiac that will give them a moment or two of joy.
Years ago I would do weird things like put our kids new skies in the light fixtures, or hang their Christmas gifts in the trees around the house and make them hunt them. In a recent family gathering the subject of ‘dad's weirdness’ came up and in the discussion the gifts were never mentioned but the love that went into the preparation was.
I believe the Psalmist knew something about that when he wrote these words, “But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.” (Psalm 5:11-12).
Soooo, my young lassies and lads, am I saying the giving of material gifts is wrong? In no way! But, keep in mind, gifts made with human hands will be forgotten in due season but the intent behind the gift will never be forgotten.
Blessings,
Gramps
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