Weekly Update – 14th December

Just under 2 weeks to go until Christmas Day….

How does that make you feel – stressed as your festive to do list never seems to get any shorter – in fact it’s the opposite, a bit “part pooped out” with all the Christmas meals and social occasions that you have attended, sad because your “special people” aren’t there to share it all with or just jaded as “oh yes, it’s that time of year again”? Have we forgotten the wonder, excitement, apprehension and joy of that first Christmas? I found this Christmas version of the well known 1 Corinthians 13 passage on love, recently and it made me have a Christmas rethink. Hope it can do the same for you, if you feel that you are focusing on the wrong things this Advent

CORINTHIANS 13 – CHRISTMAS VERSION

By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with tartan bows, strands 1 of twinkling lights and shiny baubles, but do not show love, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of  Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtimes, but do not show love, I am just another cook.

If I volunteer at a soup kitchen, sing carols in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity but do not show love, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the tree with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a multitude of Christmas parties and sing in the choir but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops  cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the partner. Love is kind, though stressed and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way but, is thankful that they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails

Video games will break,  pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure forever.

Enjoy the rest of this Advent season and remember the “real” reason for it all – God’s Love for humanity, even when it doesn’t seem to love itself!

 

Fiona