The season for friends and giving and ...

Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.

-- Oren Arnold --

Christmas is the season for giving and whether we are religious, spiritual or atheist, we can all embrace Christmas as a season for remembering love and loved ones and those who are less fortunate. We can all be thankful for all we have and try to help those who do not have.

While those of us who are Christian focus on the meaning of Christmas - the wonderful gift of Jesus and the subsequent salvation the Lord has given us, giving to others becomes a natural expression of that gratitude. The key is our focus.Our focus is on the ultimate gift-giver, our gracious Heavenly Father. We give gifts to those we care for as God gave his gift to us and as the three kings gave their gifts to the baby Jesus.  

If those of us who of different cultural or religious backgrounds focus on being thankful for what we have and remember to give to those who are less fortunate than ourselves, we also honor the spirit of Christmas. 

Even atheists can honor the season by taking time to reflect on the blessings in their lives. An attitude of gratitude is something we can all assume, something that is universally practiced and a beautiful place to spend the holiday season.

It all boils down to how we honor the meaning of Christmas and the true spirit of giving. There is nothing we can give each other or God that is greater than our love.We, at Christmastime, can show love by how we treat each other. We can show love to each other through kindness and compassion. When we give a gift, it can be our way of saying thank you to loved ones for being a blessing in our lives. It can be our way of saying that we care.

However you choose to spend this season; whether you give or decorate or do nothing; whether you love or hate this time of year ... i hope it finds you healthy, happy and safe; surrounded by love, family and friends; enjoying good food and drink and lots of moments of laughter and peace.

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat;

I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink;

I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;

naked, and you clothed Me;

I was sick, and you visited Me;

I was in prison, and you came to Me.

...Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine,

even the least of them,

you did it to Me.’

[The Gospel of Matthew 25:35-36,40]