What are your Reasons?

[MsTeeBird]

A friend of mine shared an experience with me last week and it made me more appreciative of what I do have. Although I do not have money for Christmas gifts for my children, husband and family, I am all the ore appreciative to have a roof over my head and heat. We prepared food, clothing and blankets and went to Downtown Los Angeles and handed them to people. You should have seen the people from all nationalities and walks of life lined up corner after corner to get what we had. I cried as I saw a young lady with her children, one of whom is not much older than my youngest child, standing in our line for whatever she could get from us. I reflected on how when I had no place of refuge and ended up homeless, I felt alone and afraid and abandoned, but now when I reflect God has always been there. As I go into the season, I think on all the things I am grateful for and know that Christmas is NOT about gifts. It's about love and care and the sacrifice God gave to the world. As you go into this Christmas season, think of what your real reasons are for enjoying the Holiday. God Bless you all and Merry Christmas!!!

[Ms. Rene]

Wow! What an eye opener. God has truly brought you through and continues to keep you in his graces. I can't believe how selfish I've been during the past couple of weeks, and how wrong I was when I frowned at a gift I got that I wasn't entirely happy with. How ashamed I feel when I could have been amongst the group who got laid off last month. And not be in the position to buy gifts at all. I forgot to reflect back and be thankful for all that I have been blessed with, which is my 14-year old daughter, and the fact that I can provide for her, and that she is doing fantastic in school; the fact that I can provide a roof over our heads and put food on table. That I have to stop being angry with my boyfriend and just let God live through me to continue to be a better person and a better parent. I was selfish in thinking that because of all of my hard work throughout the year, and my many sacrifices that Christmas should have been all about me, but I was wrong. And boy was I wrong. Christmas is not about who gets the best gifts, how big your tree is, how much money you have to spend, what luxuries you can afford...it's about family, and spending time with them, and appreciating what you have and thanking God for your blessings. Truth is, I've been angry for so long that I lost sight of what my priority thinking was. It seems that it always takes a small message to bring people back to reality. Because I was brought back to reality after reading this.

[MsTeeBird]

Praise Jesus!!! I am glad you were able to get something out of the few words I wrote. IF you look back, you can see that it was all for not. So many people in California lost their homes due to fires or foreclosures. So many stores are closing and those individuals will be without a job. People have car notes, and house notes and electricity or heating bills or medical bills. Some even have to choose between a bill or food to eat. This recession has placed US citizens in a bad postition. And some are still paying off last year's Christmas gifts and put themselves more in debt this year to please someone. The meaning of Christmas has taken a total U-turn. It is not even our birthday. It is the Lord's. When do anyone get a gift for someone else's birthday. We really need to, as society, need to come back to the reality of what Christmas is truly about. It is truly better to give than it is to receive. I am happy to hear that you are thankful for you daughter and to have a job and to put food on the table. God is good in that regard. He is truly good. God bless you.



Ms. Rene said:

Wow! What an eye opener. God has truly brought you through and continues to keep you in his graces. I can't believe how selfish I've been during the past couple of weeks, and how wrong I was when I frowned at a gift I got that I wasn't entirely happy with. How ashamed I feel when I could have been amongst the group who got laid off last month. And not be in the position to buy gifts at all. I forgot to reflect back and be thankful for all that I have been blessed with, which is my 14-year old daughter, and the fact that I can provide for her, and that she is doing fantastic in school; the fact that I can provide a roof over our heads and put food on table. That I have to stop being angry with my boyfriend and just let God live through me to continue to be a better person and a better parent. I was selfish in thinking that because of all of my hard work throughout the year, and my many sacrifices that Christmas should have been all about me, but I was wrong. And boy was I wrong. Christmas is not about who gets the best gifts, how big your tree is, how much money you have to spend, what luxuries you can afford...it's about family, and spending time with them, and appreciating what you have and thanking God for your blessings. Truth is, I've been angry for so long that I lost sight of what my priority thinking was. It seems that it always takes a small message to bring people back to reality. Because I was brought back to reality after reading this.

[Miss EB]

Beatifully put MsTeeBird. As the New Year begins to grow old again I've realized that life requires a balance. Even God tells us that when he says that God and Evil all work together for the good of those who love him. In order to be grateful you have to have had something that was empty and lacking. In order to succeed you've had to have failed prior. So I look over my life and realize that it's okay to complain as long as I have solution to go along with the complaint. It's okay to cry as long as I have a smile to follow the tears. It's okay to lose as long as you know that in the end you are promised victory. Grace and peace since Carol's Daughter I don't miss the hair grease - Miss EB