God gave us the greatest gift of all times– Jesus, His Son. That’s why we have Christmas to celebrate. Then Jesus gave up His life again for us – part of God’s greatest gift. That’s why Christmas becomes more meaningful. Life is gifted to us so we can gain eternal life.
So let’s do something life-giving this Christmas. Get away from the “I-expect-something-nice-this-Christmas” feeling. Instead, do something good.
These verses were found written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
So pay it forward. No matter how frustrating life can be, there’s still something good that happened to you. And you must pass it on to other people who needs to be encouraged, too.
Remember that once, someone made you smile. Something made you jump with joy. Somewhere you felt peace. Sometime, you were loved. Somehow, you received. So it’s just right to pay it forward. Give.
For once, forget about your own self, your own miseries, your own failures. You pay the good things forward to others. And without even asking for it, goodness will come back to you. Because you gave.
Our goodness, especially despite our own lack, will never escape God’s eyes. What is more awesome is that He promises an abundance of blessings those who pay it forward.
Luke 6:38 reminds us of God’s promise: ”Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Three years ago, on Christmas morning, my children and I hopped into our car and drove around Cebu city and suburbs looking for any one who could benefit from a home-cooked meal of spaghetti, ham, bread and juice.
A street cleaner sweeping while other people may still be snoring from the party the night before, a senior couple unable to take the bus home to the province, a homeless mentally challenged woman, and an old man sitting sadly by the road were just some of the people who got confused, wondered, surprised and elated when we handed them the plate of food we prepared. Sharing with them a meal on Christmas morning is more than enough to feel more relieved than worried over a slight car accident we had that morning. It was so uplifting to give, to do good. More importantly, I set an example of a good deed to my children. I pray they also pay this forward as they chart their own lives as adults now.
God doesn’t need our gifts. We can’t even give back anything to him except paying goodness forward. If we haven’t done this before, this Christmas is a good start.
A week from now, my children and I will again hop into our car and scour the streets on Christmas morning spreading cheer to those whom we find along the way. How I wish I can go around the world to do it (lol). But our own backyard first needs the attention.
Look beyond your own self. Think of how you can make someone smile, jump with joy, experience peace and feel loved. There’s always time to do something good.
God loves to give, bless, and empower. Allow God to do these three things through us. Let’s be generous and willing to use what God has given us to help others and bring Him glory.
Like the faithful stewards in the parable of the talents (Matt. 25), God will bless us more so we can do good more. As we pay goodness forward to others, God will supply us with more than we can imagine! (2 Cor. 9:6-11 & Eph. 3:20-21.)
Be a blessor and be blessed!