A Season to Help Others

The Christmas lights are beaming from many homes around the area. I like to drive around and see the festive homes. There is no mistaking the reason for the season on my street with five of the homes having nativity sets in the front yard. Today while driving to check on a student I saw a twenty foot high manger made from timbers. It was impressive as it stood out by itself in a field.
We are in the middle of the season of giving and I’ve been thinking about the business of helping others. There have been several students recently who needed some medical attention and I have been thinking that maybe I needed to step up my prayer game. I believe in a God who can heal and restore people. Maybe I should be doing more than watching and being aware, could God be calling me to intercession?
Several friends have sent their parents to their eternal home recently. I can’t imagine the sorrow and pain they are facing, especially at the holiday season. The holidays are so focused on gathering the family together and yet these families will be missing a very important member. I was just wondering how each of us might help in some small way to bring comfort, peace, and the joy of the holiday season to someone who is dealing with loss.
A neighbor called and needed some help moving some furniture. I found out they had gotten something new and were getting rid of the good looking used things. I immediately thought of a church family that might be able to put the used furniture to some good use. I am in the process of trying to connect the two together. I hope I can work things out because then I would be helping two people at the same time.
Many people choose to help a needy family or a child during the holiday season. I know churches, civic organizations, charities, and even some TV stations work together to bring some Christmas joy to the less fortunate. They help through organizations that are all about seeing a need and then meeting it.
The spirit of Christmas is giving to others. Some people have long lists of people they must buy for while others have a much shorter list. What I have been thinking about lately is instead of giving things to others, maybe what some people need is a helping hand. A gift doesn’t have to cost money to be meaningful. The gift of our time and energy might be just the ticket to be a greater blessing in another’s life.
All of us have neighbors and friends who need help with things. Consider the elderly who live nearby; they might need help with the leaves or cleaning out the gutters. They might need help with an errand or getting to the doctor. Can you imagine what a wonderful gift an afternoon of house cleaning might be to help someone prepare for Christmas? Kindnesses like that can mean more than another trinket to place on a shelf.
I’m also convinced that gifts don’t have to come from the store. I know I have received tasty loaves of bread or fresh baked cookies that were deeply appreciated. Someone who put some love and thought into making something nice for us makes a wonderful gift. When we do something from the heart to bless another person, it’s an awesome and loving gift.
The Bible teaches us that Jesus came to serve, not to be served. We are talking about the King of kings and the Lord of lords who came to serve mankind. His life is an example for us to follow. Think about all the stories in the Bible where Jesus listened to someone who was in need and then He went to help the family out. He changed the water to wine to save the family from embarrassment. He raised a little girl from the dead to heal and restore the broken hearted parents. Everywhere He went, Jesus looked for ways to serve others.
I want to encourage you to consider giving your time and effort to someone in need this holiday season. God can use you to be a blessing in another person’s life. While gifts are wonderful to give and receive, the gift of our time and talents can be one of the greatest gifts we give this year. It won’t hurt your budget and can spread some great holiday cheer. Ask God to show you a need, and then how you can be a part of meeting that need and thereby be a Christmas blessing in someone’s life.

Doug Creamer’s books are at Amazon including: Encouraging Thoughts. Contact him at doug@dougcreamer.com