A number of years ago, Janice and I had the good fortune to visit Amsterdam. It was April and the tulip fields were in full glory! Another highlight was a tour of the Anne Frank House. As you know, that courageous youth left the legacy of a journal that continues to inspire new generations of readers. She has fast become a hero to our daughters. May her words bring fresh meaning to your Christmas:
Give of yourself, give as much as you can! And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!
If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more that you would ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!
As we find ourselves amidst the hustle and bustle of what the Christmas season has come to mean for so many of us, we would do well to consider gifts of love, gifts that need not be bought or even wrapped. As Anne Frank reminds us, abundant life cannot be found apart from giving of ourselves.
May this prayer by DeWane Zimmerman (my pastor growing up) help guide us in the coming days:
O God, lest I come to Christmas
over-committed and under-nourished,
more pressured and less prepared,
more filled with Christmas shove than love,
trying to buy what can’t be bought,
help me each day to take time:
to look often and long
at the marvelous earth
and all that lives upon it,
to be with heart and soul
a friend with all I find.
Merry Christmas, Pastor Jeff