LET’S BE HONEST

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Let’s be honest; somethings about the holidays we don’t really look forward to. In fact, I’ll bet, really just guess, I’m not much of a gambler, there are somethings about the holidays you and I downright dread.

Today, (which happens to be Sunday… so much for a day of rest), is the day the Christmas tree has to come down. I’ve been wrestling, punching, lassoing, and kneeing that obstinate fake tree back into its disintegrating boxes for fifteen years.

There will be cuts and scrapes I’ll have to nurse for the next couple weeks after we go another round this year. If I was a little more gentle with the ole tree its lights would probably still be working. And there would be less holes and little pieces of it to toss each year.

The tree is just the beginning. The lights out front are a couple stories off the ground and aren’t exactly a walk in the park either. Getting them down and putting them away is easy to dread too.

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I had a thought early this morning; instead of another year of dread, I should be thanking my lucky stars that I have another year to fight that tree. The reality is that it has nothing to do with stars. God made the stars and is the One responsible for giving us another year.

We got word this morning that a charity we support called FAM, Fighting All Monsters, a children’s cancer charity, lost a young man that’s been fighting cancer for fifteen years. Levi was nineteen years old.

And I dread taking down a tree?

Last night I went and plugged the heat lamps in to keep the oranges from freezing on the trees. “I’m glad I’m not homeless tonight,” I said as I walked back inside.

It’s easy to take God’s love, grace, and mercy for granted. Most of us do. I’m no exception.

I’m thankful for another year. I’m thankful for the physical ability to still be able to manhandle that tree, the agility to still climb ladders. I’m thankful that my family is healthy and has first world issues, not third world ones.

I’m thankful for the gift of free will that allows me the mental capacity to choose how I react in situations… like taking down the decorations from celebrating the birth of Christ.

I’m thankful for God’s protection and provision of another year. I pray His mercy and grace would overwhelm the families that have lost and are going to lose their children this year. May they find peace in their darkest hours. May we do what we can to be the heart and hands of God.

If you have an interest in supporting FAM it would be appreciated by a lot of suffering folks. Click here to get to FAM. More importantly, your prayers for the children and families are appreciated.

Let’s be honest; we have been blessed. And “to whom much is given much is required.” May God bless you and yours with a healthy and wise 2020 and beyond.