Holidays With Jesus: ChristmasExemplo

While growing up, my mom made it a priority to teach my siblings and me to honor and be good to others – especially our elders, the underdogs around us, those going through grief, and those less fortunate.

A few times a year, we’d bake cupcakes then visit nursing homes and a special home for the mentally challenged. We’d get to know the residents and offer our cupcakes and friendly conversation. Sometimes, my sisters would play the piano or we would sing for them. When my brother, sisters, and I were in college, we and our Bible Study group would host a weekly Bible Study and time of worship at a local nursing home.

As a child, I’d quietly watch a family member gather toiletries, small gifts, and makeup gift bags to give to abused women and children who were living in shelters. I’d also see this special family member create gift bags or buy flowers to give to the widows in our community. She didn’t want anyone to feel alone or forgotten during the holidays. The best thing about it, she’d do all of this anonymously.

Christmas is the perfect time to show love and honor to grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, pastors, teachers, firefighters, police officers, military and their families, medical staff, trash collectors, the mailman, and anyone else who serves or sacrifices to make our lives better.

It is also the perfect time to help those who need encouragement – such as widows, parents who have experienced their child’s death, and anyone else who is going through grief or loss...and to also help those who are down on their luck.

Think of ways you can show honor and love to your elders, ways you can help or donate to charities, and ways you can offer encouragement and a listening ear to those who are going through grief.

Christmas is about Jesus, and one of the best ways you can show love to Christ is to love and be good to others!

Talk to Jesus and ask Him to share with your heart all of the fresh ways you can show His love by honoring those who need it most!

Even simply saying, “thank you,” and committing to pray for others is a most extravagant gift!

Prayer: “Jesus, thank You for all of the ways You perfectly meet our needs. Help us to see how we can help others in return. Lord, thank You so very much for the precious elders above us in our families: grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and pastors. Please give us some meaningful ideas of how to truly honor them for all of the sacrifices and investments they have poured into our life. Jesus, there are so many who are experiencing joy this season, but there are also many who are going through grief and loss. Please show us how we can do our part to help and encourage them. Help us to encourage and be mindful of those in public service who sacrifice to make our world a better place, and help us to also encourage and be mindful of those who are away from their families: military, those in nursing homes or prison, or those who are away due to work. Give each of us the gift of compassion and help us to use our compassion wisely and to the best of our ability! In Your precious name we pray, Amen!”

Activity #1: consider ways you can show honor and love to your elders today. 

Activity #2: consider the many ways you can donate time, prayer, or help to those in need.

Activity #3: buy a prepackaged treat and drop it off at a fire station, at a hospital for ER staff, at church for your church staff, police station, or sent to our military to say, “Thank you.” Many places prefer prepackaged treats due to health concerns.

Activity #4: visit a nursing home to say, “Merry Christmas!” Be sure to contact the nursing home before you arrive to see what their guidelines are.

This devotional © 2018 by Kim Niles/Grief Bites. All rights reserved. Used by permission.