Make A Difference To One

By Pat

Well, another holiday season is here...each year it seems to come more quickly than the one before it, and I find myself unprepared! It's time to start getting ready for Christmas, my favorite time of the year. It's time for preparations to be made. We will go soon to buy our tree, and I will rearrange my living room furniture so that it will fit...but will I rearrange my heart to make room for Jesus?

I must decorate my house, inside and out. I will remove my everyday knick-knacks so that I can display my Christmas candles, music boxes, figurines and other assorted items. But will I ask Jesus to remove the things in my heart that prevent me from truly celebrating the joy of His birth? Will I discard my pettiness, temper, jealousies and sharp tongue so that my heart will have more room for peace, joy and brotherly love? Will I push away the stress so that I can feel the peace?

I will make cookies-lots of delicious cookies, and I will present them to my family and friends. Yes, I will feed them my cookies! But will I also remember to feed and nourish them with words of encouragement, love and understanding? And will I remember to feed myself a little more of the Word, maybe an extra morning devotion, a longer prayer, an Advent study?

I will play Christmas music, so that we hear the lovely songs of the season. Indeed, my house will have music! But will I also remember to add the music of laughter, love and warmth, the sounds of inner joy and kindness?