Monday’s thoughts
“We’ll All Be Disappointed”
Maybe the sermon title for Sunday, December 16th is overstated. It could be that we all won’t be disappointed, but there is so much anticipated in this season that it tends to lead to disappointment.
Clyde Reid wrote a book entitled You Can Choose Christmas. That book contains a very important attitude. Basically, Reid tells us we have a choice to make. We can allow the season to simply come to us and let it happen with all the expectations we will bring to it. Some expectations will be realized and some will not. Some will come to Christmas having the sense of joy and satisfaction and some will become depressed and discouraged because it failed to live up to the hope they had for it.
Clyde Reid is saying we have a decision to make. He says it this way, “Do you want to bring joy to someone? To whom? Do you want to feel the deeper meaning of the birth of Jesus? Do you want a bigger, better office party? Do you want to be reborn? do you want lots of presents? Do you want some time alone, time for you? You may aim high or low, but your dream will help decide what kind of Christmas it will be. You may choose to do nothing. You may wait and hope that someone else will make it a good Christmas for you. And they may. but what you do now can make a difference. You can choose to make it a good Christmas for someone else–and your own Christmas will be influenced.”
Reid is telling us the secret to a happy Christmas depends upon our intent to help make Christmas happy for someone else. The act and attitiude defines the meaning of the season and we do have a choice.
Do you have plans to choose Christmas?
What are your plans and what suggestions do you have for others? Write me your thoughts on this at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. Click on the space and the email address will appear.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
