Joey and Carla Link
December 11, 2024
I don’t know about you, but I (Carla) have been stressing about getting our Christmas cards in the mail. I haven’t intentionally put it off, I just haven’t gotten around to it either. Last night I asked myself, “Would God want me to be anxious about a card we are sharing with friends and family in celebration of His birth?”
Christmas is the one time each year the world stops to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, whether they know it or not, and whether they want to admit it or not. Our focus when our kids were growing up was that they would absolutely know in whose honor they got so much attention and treats. It is because we are celebrating the greatest Gift we will ever get. For me, sending cards with notes of encouragement to those we love is part of my celebrating His eternal love for me.
So, how do we please Jesus during the celebration of HIS birth?
“Become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate,
freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ freely forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Being kind to one another isn’t hard. It is opening doors for the elderly and disabled, offering to help them get to their car on icy parking lots after church. We just need to stop, look around and ask ourselves and our kids, is there anyone who could use kindness right now?
To be tender is to be gentle and to be compassionate is “showing sympathy and concern for others.” So, how do we teach our kids to show tender concern for others? We all can do this by being good listeners. We can do this by praying for others and if you know them, drop them a note and let them know you are. As a family, we tried to notice those who would be lonely during the Christmas season and find ways to show them someone cared. We would fill our cars with widows who didn’t have family in the area and take them to see neighborhoods of lighted houses and then go for hot chocolate and cookies. The love they showered on us in return was an absolute blessing.
In this verse we are also told to forgive. I think when we read verses in the Bible, we skim over words that change the entire text and meaning. We need to do more than forgive those who hurt us, we are to freely forgive.
One of our daughters had trouble forgiving those who hurt her. She was a sensitive soul who, with the Melancholy temperament was easily hurt. I once asked her if she wanted God to forgive her as soon as she asked for it. She was surprised at the question and responded that of course she did. Then I asked her what she thought went through God’s mind when she refused to forgive someone who hurt her, intentional or not.
To freely forgive is not forced forgiveness because you are made to give it. Kids 8 years and above need to know this. To freely forgive is more than “I’m sorry”, it is “Will you forgive me for hurting your feelings?”
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
I John 1:9
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