THE GIFT OF WELCOME

Mark 9:37  "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

The holiday season is upon us.  Called the holiday season, I think, because of the closeness of Thanksgiving and Christmas, then New Years.  The beautiful time of year when hearts seem a little lighter, people seem to laugh more, seem a little more polite, caring.  But that is not all people.  There are those who would prefer that this time of year just pass them by.  There is not much joy for them, and the days just seem to pull them down.

I helped some friends last weekend with their project.  They have 152,  and hope to have a few more, nice backpacks that they filled with all kinds of tolietries and then, 2 pairs of socks, gloves, stocking hat,  muffler and a rain jacket.  Along with this backpack they will be making sack lunches to give out.  They will spend their Sunday morning after Thanksgiving, downtown in an area where there are a number of homeless  people.  Just people that are down on their luck, just needing that gift of welcome.  Welcome from God's hand to them.  Handing across the love of the Father to these folks.  With each backpack will go the welcome of love and friendship, warmth and caring that we have been told to pass from the Father through us to others.

Where did we get from the important things of this life to where we think of what we can find under the tree.  After a few hours those new things will lose their shine, lose their interest, and then we are just waiting for the next holiday season.  The meaning of this time of year is two fold. 

First is Thanksgiving.  This day is the day that we think of all the things we have to be thankful for.  So many make this day the day to thank each other, and to thank the Lord for His blessings and care for the past year.  What if this year, each day, we tell each other how much we appreciate them, and how about if we begin each day, from now on, to thank our Creator for the love, the guidance, the wisdom, the blessings He bestows on us each day, each day giving us new mercies, grace for the day, and more love than we will ever be able to understand.  True thanksgiving is not about what we will do that day, what we will eat, but how we will pass that thanks, that giving to those that need a welcome back to the love of the Lord.

Christmas.  It is not a tree, it is not presents.  It is about the Gift, the true Gift.  Jesus came, as a babe, He came to bring us life, life abundantly, and to give us freedom in Him.  He died to give us life eternal and the most beautiful gift of all, relationship with the Father, a oneness with our God that will never end.  Christmas is about opening our hearts and welcoming those in who need a show of love and friendship.  We all know people that are alone, needing friends.  Give the gift of welcome to those the Lord puts on your heart.  The Lord knows just who will bless you as you bless them with His love.

Thanksgiving, not just about football and food; Christmas, not just about shopping and gifts.  They are about the gift of welcome.  Welcoming in your heart the true spirit of this season, sharing, showing the love of the Lord to all He leads you to.  Giving gifts that will never end, either in the heart of the recipient or your heart.  The gift of welcome will become tops on your list for each year if you will let the Holy Spirit lead you to seeing others with God's eyes, loving others with God's heart.  The reward?  Well, it's the gift of welcome to the Lord's heart, His throne room, His Presence.

11-15-11