Two sides of Christmas

I have had two experiences this Christmas season that left an impression on me. One was being part of a line in a gas station and the guy in front of me turned around and asked what I was getting and how much it cost. I stated that I was getting gas for my car and what it cost, then asked why he was asking. He responded by saying that the person ahead of him paid for his items and so he was paying for mine. This really brightened my day. I had been getting over congestion and a struggle with the weather among other things, it made a difference. I turned around and asked the guy behind me how much his items cost (of course I had to make sure I could afford it). I paid for his too. The store clerks were pleasantly surprised and one remarked that she "needed to be on the other side of the counter." It is always great to see a total stranger showing that there is goodness in humanity. They said the Christmas cheer had been started by a lady earlier in the day.

My second experience was at a store when someone struck up a conversation with me about how Christmas is a really depressing time for him. It was sad and I prayed for him that night even though I didn't know his name, God does.

For some, Christmas is a season of festivities and it is easy to get caught up in who is around the table or the gifts we get or do not get. We all have our traditions and cultures. On the western side, there is a lot of gift-giving and cooking. In the culture I grew up around, it was mostly eating and receiving visitors. However, when I think about what the first Christmas meant, I see it as the celebration of a God who gave His son because He wanted a relationship with mankind. He could have looked the other way but He chose to send love. If you are in a giving mood or in a sad mood, that same God sees you where you are and He is reaching out to you with outstretched arms.

Merry Christmas!

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