December 23rd, 2020
By Heather Schuck
It's that time of the year when we all remember as a kid kind of sweating it out wondering if we had been "good enough" for Santa to visit that year. And if it weren't enough to wonder about Santa, who we couldn't see, then most of us added the "elf on the shelf" which added a more tangible reminder for the kids that they were being watched. And sadly, so many of us, kids and adults alike think of God this way, the big guy in the sky watching us and waiting to catch us doing wrong.
But the Bible says differently. "For God SO LOVED THE WORLD, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This was the verse that spoke to me as a child when I was saved. And I believed it. Then I messed up again and again and wondered, as many children and adults do, "How could God love ME like that?"
But He does. Simple as that. He loves us so much that He humbled himself as a baby, the most vulnerable and innocent among us, and chose to go through all the things we do. The broken promises, despair, sadness, fears, and so He knows. He knows how hard things can be and how difficult this year has been. And He knows people like me, broken and in need of a Savior, and STILL loves me, even when I'm at my worst.
So this Christmas I hope I will ask God to help me "catch others" being good. Instead of being the Grinch, tired and grouchy from dealing with all the issues this year, I will choose to be kind, be hopeful, and to see the good in others. I will try to slow down, take a deep breath and smile. And I will try to pass the good news on, for everyone to hear!
It's that time of the year when we all remember as a kid kind of sweating it out wondering if we had been "good enough" for Santa to visit that year. And if it weren't enough to wonder about Santa, who we couldn't see, then most of us added the "elf on the shelf" which added a more tangible reminder for the kids that they were being watched. And sadly, so many of us, kids and adults alike think of God this way, the big guy in the sky watching us and waiting to catch us doing wrong.
But the Bible says differently. "For God SO LOVED THE WORLD, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This was the verse that spoke to me as a child when I was saved. And I believed it. Then I messed up again and again and wondered, as many children and adults do, "How could God love ME like that?"
But He does. Simple as that. He loves us so much that He humbled himself as a baby, the most vulnerable and innocent among us, and chose to go through all the things we do. The broken promises, despair, sadness, fears, and so He knows. He knows how hard things can be and how difficult this year has been. And He knows people like me, broken and in need of a Savior, and STILL loves me, even when I'm at my worst.
So this Christmas I hope I will ask God to help me "catch others" being good. Instead of being the Grinch, tired and grouchy from dealing with all the issues this year, I will choose to be kind, be hopeful, and to see the good in others. I will try to slow down, take a deep breath and smile. And I will try to pass the good news on, for everyone to hear!
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