Touching other People.

Recently, I listened to a gentleman with whom I was doing business, share how over the last two years he'd rethought his priorities as he battled cancer. He said that there was a time hunting, fishing and his love for guns was his passion. Now, his family, friends and his volunteer work through the Knights of Columbus were what he lived for. This wasn't the first time I'd heard of someone amending their priorities.

I recall a radio broadcast with Glen Beck several years back. He was interviewing three men who'd survived captivity in the jungles of South America. Their plane had been forced to land and they were immediately captured and held by Colombian rebels for five years. At one point during the program Glen asked what kept each of them going, what gave them hope to survive. Not that the rest of their answers weren't similar, but I distinctly remember one of the three speak of seeing his family again. That made such an impression. When that man could have easily despaired of life as he spoke in retrospect of five long years of never knowing if he'd see the light of morning, the hope that kept him going was seeing his family again!

A couple of other clients who've recently made impressions include an elder widow in her 80's (it's hard to tell sometimes), who stays active with volunteer work at the local hospital and has done so for over 30 years. Though she uses a cane to navigate slowly, she said in a rather matter-of-fact tone, "I just can't stop my volunteer work". Absolutely amazing! Incidentally, this same woman was a foster parent along with her husband, to over 40 children!

Another client, an elderly woman who lives alone and suffers from arthritis in her hands and neck such that she can't move her fingers or turn her head easily, stays active by being a "cheerleader" for a local Triple A baseball team. Her and eleven other "aged" friends entertain hundreds of fans every week with their jubilant cheers!

There are many similar stories I could share but the point I want to make is simply this: The essence of life is making others an inclusive part of our day. We truly live when we go out of our way to touch another persons' life!

Do you regularly take time to "reach out and touch someone"? If not, is there someone you can think of right now that could use a touch today?

Christmas Giving- Incognito!

There are a lot of things that make this time of year special. Yet, by far and away the most meaningful for me is reflecting on Christ’s birth and the Nativity; God giving His Son. For hundreds of years humanity had longed for the Savior that was foretold. Now the time had come! Without doubt, this would become the most significant event in history.

Amazingly enough however, is the manner in which God choose to give us His Son. His arrival wasn't announced in a way that would have seemed appropriate. As a matter of fact, even though there were far more people in Bethlehem at that time than normal, no one had a clue as to what was about to take place. It wasn’t until angels heralded the news to a few shepherds in a nearby field that anyone even knew that God’s Son was being born that night.

And so it was, removed from all the commotion, somewhere in a small barn, amidst a few livestock, a young woman groaned with the pains of birth. God’s salvation was being revealed...and no one- except the shepherds- had any idea what was happening! Incredible! God had sent his Son to save all humanity, the same Son who always was and always will be (Revelation 1:8) and it nearly goes unnoticed.

It reminds me of something Jesus said during His Sermon on the Mount, "When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure—'playactors' I call them— treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out." Matthew 6:2-4 Message Bible.

This seems to sum up God’s giving nature; though He commands highest honor, he does some of his most amazing acts of kindness quietly and unpretentiously. He didn't need extra fanfare to announce the arrival of His Son. He's God...He doesn't need any fanfare!

Why not try giving a gift this Christmas, as much as is possible, without letting the recipient know who it's from. You'll still enjoy the reward of sharing and I think you might find the gift will still have as great an impact on the person opening it!

Do you enjoy giving? Do you prefer to put your name on gifts when you give?