December 17, 2021
Season of Giving, Part II
You can’t buy back time, or buy traditions, memories, family or friends. But what you can do is celebrate them every day of your life. This season of giving is a true reflection of what is really important in your life and of those lives around you.
Kindness matters, Respect matters, Friendship matters, Love matters. Disagreements will happen every now and then, but if you agree to disagree sometimes the outcomes will genuinely surprise you! Be kind to others and you will receive kindness back in ways you unexpected. Hold that door open for your grandparents, put that shopping cart back in the corral (this is a real pet-peeve of mine btw - lol!), give your spouse a compliment, teach your children to treat others, as they would treat themselves. Smile to a stranger, it’s good for your face, and it takes much less effort than a frown.
Respect others’ opinions, you may not always agree, but that doesn’t mean that you are always right either. Respect your elders (I know, I know your parents always tell you this) but just remember, you will be an elder someday, and you would have lived a very long life, and through all the lessons you’ve learned and shared during that life, you will have earned and deserved all of that respect. Grow old gracefully, and laugh at yourself, don’t take life too seriously, or you will miss out on all those golden moments.
Be the friend that you always wanted. Make your friendships matter to those in your life, and make new friends to those who aren’t. Caring is sharing. Don’t be selfish, share yourself and your time to friendships. Make them stronger, make them better, make them giving and open yourself up to all the new people you come across in your life. Have lunch with the new co-worker across the hall. Have a conversation with the new kid in your class. Post a friendly word on your friends face book page. Pick up the phone and talk to someone you haven’t seen in a really long time. Be the friend that you always wanted to be.
Love matters. Saying I Love you to those in your life everyday is important, but love also means showing you love them through your actions, through your kindness, through your respect and through your friendship.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
Give more of your time this holiday season. With all of our busy lives, we sometimes put off spending time with people, thinking that there is always tomorrow, next week, or next month. But time is not guaranteed, for those who have lost loved ones, the reality is all too real. Time passes more quickly than we realize. If you haven’t seen or talked to someone that you have been meaning too, this holiday season is the time to re-connect.
Traditions are a really important, time honored, passionate, feel good, love inspired thing to create, honor and pass down for generations to come. Celebrate your hand-me-down traditions, and create new ones that you will share with family and friends for generations to come. Open a “secret” package on Christmas Eve. Make that special Christmas morning breakfast. Sing Christmas Carols with a group of friends. Make a new holiday ornament for your tree. Bake cherished family recipe Christmas cookies with your kids. Be a “secret-Santa” for someone in need. Make a new tradition every year with your family, and inspire others to do the same.
With every tradition you celebrate, remember you are making memories to last a life-time. They will forever be left in your heart by those who have gone to heaven this holiday season. Every year when the holiday season is upon us, we will remember those traditions that have been passed to us from loved ones, and our hearts will be lifted once again in their memories.
Cherish your family and friends. For some of us, our friends are our family, and for some of us, our family are our friends. Celebrate those friendships whichever they may be, with the true spirit of the holiday season.
The holiday is just beginning, and we are just getting started. Have you started your season of giving yet?
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