Comparison & Compassion!

For seven straight years I rang the Salvation Army Bell at a Red Kettle. It was a great experience and an opportunity to demonstrate care to people who pass me by. There are many who struggle at this time of year! 

There isn’t time in this blog entry to tell you the many conversations I have had with widows, parents, children, and others that are hungry for hope! There are many examples of those that share in the joy of giving! 

Too often people shop for things they don’t need just to keep up with others. The latest fashion, household items, and other stuff that does not fill the need of their soul. Comparing yourself with someone else isn’t the answer. No amount of stuff can fill the hole in your heart.

Only through Christ can we discover the joy of this season! It is about giving not comparing ourselves with others that makes a difference; especially in Christ! It is through faith that we find hope. We can go from no hope to the God of all hope! President Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Many miss out because they carry a spirit of anger and find only disappointment. Too often we need reminders that God is blessing us. I love to tell the story (pictured above) of my grandkids. When they first experienced jalapeño peppers, they responded with a remarkable reminder that even with surprises, kids often respond in positive ways! (The story was published in a readers digest article.)

Today’s thought has to do with letting God into your heart. Don’t look to others. By keeping your eyes on Christ means that you will find compassion and charity! Charity is key to understanding thanksgiving; a heart of gratitude! We steel the joy God wants to give by comparing ourselves with others. 

Just like the shepherds, who came to worship the Christ, Child. Being given the opportunity to receive the proclamation that a child has been born on us, who is the savior of the world! Even the wisemen came from a great distance to witness this incredible fulfillment of prophecy bringing gifts. 

This year for Christmas, spend a few minutes reading the Christmas story so that you too can be reminded of the incredible blessing that we have in Christ. 

Luke 2:6-11 — And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

The Shepherds and Angels

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!