It’s not even Christmas yet, and it has been a challenging holiday season for our congregation. From high school students facing their first Christmas without their mother, to former members now apparently homeless, to current members dealing with relationship issues, health issues, and the loss of family members, it has been a particularly trying season to maintain a joyful attitude as your minister. I keep reminding myself to “Rejoice in the Lord, always,” and again, I say, “Rejoice!”
Be kind to everyone; family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. And don’t forget to smile! You may not know what others are dealing with in their lives today, and you may never know when a simple smile encouraged someone else to keep going, to endure in their faith, to persevere in adversity, or to make it through the day. We must learn how to enjoy each others’ company and love each other’s diversity, because we will be spending an eternity together praising God and serving Jesus our Lord.
So why not get a head start? Practice smiling at people now. Practice encouraging people today. Practice being kind to others on purpose. Practice loving each other all the time, and not just for an hour on Sundays. God is love, so the more we practice loving the closer we are drawn to Him. The claim “Jesus is Lord” has strings attached, for where he leads, we follow. We follow him from an earthly birth, through a righteous life, a sacrificial death, and into a glorious resurrection. And someday (some sooner than others), we will all ascend with him, too.
Grace & Peace, Charles.