proverbs31lady

Next Monday, this nation will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday.  This year, his birthday will be especially meaningful to the African-American community, because on the day after, President Elect Barack Obama will take the oath of office and become the 44th president of these United States. 

Dr. King fought for justice, racial equality and did it all with non-violent confrontation.  Just as Mahatma Ghandi did in India, Dr. King endured violence and jail for his belief in justice, racial equality and an end to segregation.  My child now attend schools with white, brown and asian children because of the courageous work of Dr. King.  He is a hero who laid down his life for others.  As we prepare for the inauguration of President Elect Obama, I hope we pause and reflect on how far we have come in this nation and how far we have yet to go.  As long as one child recieves substandard education, healthcare and lives in poverty, Dr. King’s dream is still unrealized.  May we all get to work and do more than talk about it.  Let’s get on with it!

Here are some ways to insure that you will have a blessed and happy year ahead:

1. Forgive everyone who has offended or hurt you and do it immediately.  Don’t hold onto past hurts - they only end up hurting you and making you bitter.  Let it go!

2. Love your spouse and your children unconditionally.  Speak words that encourage and build up.  Give ‘em lots of hugs, we all need them!

3. Make exercise a daily part of your life.  It will help you physically, mentally and emotionally.

4. Choose to eat healthier.  Include more water (that’s right H20), fresh fruits and veggies in your diet. Eliminate fast food - period.

5. Maintain important friendships and develop new ones.

6. Work on finding meaningful work.  If you hate your job, look  for a new one. Life is too short to spend 8-10 hours a day doing something you hate.

7. Get your house organized.  Give away all clothing you don’t wear anymore and clothing your children have outgrown.  Pare down your possessions and bless others with them.

8. Challenge your mind by taking a class or learning a new language.

9. Revisit your dreams and develop steps to attaining them.

10. Develop a relationship with the Lord of all creation through His Son, Jesus Christ.  He will infuse your life with meaning and joy.

 Have a happy, prosperous new year. 

Christmas is about giving.  God gave His son to us, to redeem us from our sins.  He laid down His life to purchase our redemption.  So often that truth is lost in all of the commercialism of today’s Christmas celebrations.  The retail industry spends millions of dollars in advertising to entice us to buy, buy buy.  “Find the perfect gift…”  “Give her something she won’t return…”  Etc., ect.  Retailers have decided that they can get us to buy even if they will not acknowledge “Christmas” because they have to step over the manger to say the word.  This country has a rich Christian heritage and it’s very sad to see the expunging of the very word, “Christmas.”  God’s love for us should cause us to remember the less fortunate in our communities this Christmas.  Give to your favorite charity.  Volunteer at a mission for the homeless, a hospital or visit an elderly relative.  There are so many opportunities to give of yourself -  find opportunities to give!  Our Lord told us that when we are willing to lose our lives, then we’ll find them.  We lose our lives when we give our time and treasure to help others and bless them.  Show Christ’s love this Christmas and give.  Just remember, the best gift of all is Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

Am I the only one who misses Christmas?  Whatever happened to Christmas parties (not holiday parties)?  Whatever ever happened to folks happily saying “Merry Christmas” in stores, on the street, at work, etc.?  Christmas is the holiest day of the year for us Christians, who celebrate Jesus’ birth.  It’s a joyous time for me and my family, with attendance of church services, decorating our Christmas tree and remembering the less fortunate in our communities.  Years ago, Christmas was, as Johnny Mathis so beautifully sang, “the most wonderful time of the year”.  Even folks who aren’t Christians celebrate Christmas with gift-giving, parties and family gatherings.   Of the three “holidays” in December, the only one that is a Federal holiday is Christmas.  Let’s not forget our heritage, keep Christmas in Christmas.  Let’s not substitute the word “holiday” for Christmas.  It’s too important, and too special a time.  By the way, MERRY CHRISTMAS!