Graceful Christmas (Matthew 7:12)

 

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the Prophets.  (Matthew 7:12)

Are you going to be alright this Christmas?  Christmas should normally be a time of joy and peace.  Let's not kid ourselves though, Christmastime can be a stressful financial time for most people.  A time of great loss related to death and funerals and, family troubles.  Peace on earth might be a far-reaching dream.

For many years, having a mental illness was for me like carrying a burden.  Over the years people saw me as another person doing my work.  Now I see people in a different light.  I see them each as a person + burden(s), I try anyway.  This Christmas with Covid-19 and other things, people around you might have lost hope just like you.  Are you selfish?  They don't need someone selfish.  They need someone with hope.  Give them hope!

This is why the true Christmas message should be proclaimed through our lives as we make a conscious effort to give the gift of grace to everyone.  Especially, to those who are losing it because of extra stress in their lives at their job.  Furthermore, how about a cashier who is at the end of a shift? Or even a nurse or a doctor who needs some encouragement.  In fact, you might be the only one they saw today with a positive attitude.  You might be their Christmas wish fulfilled.  Try it! Instead of getting angry with someone at the till or wherever, just show a bit of grace.  Even, a little bit of Grace goes a long way!

As I used to work as a baker during the Christmas season some weird shifts, I can relate to shop owner and employees who have to give sometimes more than they really are capable to give.  Could we all pitch in this Christmas and give an extra hand to those people and the less fortunate.  They need us to do it for them.  They might not show us because those are real servants in our society.  But even servants need a hand up eventually.

This is a small list of servants who may need encouragement:

• Waitresses or waiters
• Cooks if you know them
• RCMP staffs
• Nurses and staffs
• Post office clerks
•  Fellow shoppers and attendants

Lastly, we all need grace this Christmas. What is grace? In this case, this is my definition...Something you would really want and instead you would give it to someone else.  The golden rule:  Do unto others what you would like them to do to you.