From the Pastor’s Pen – By Brian Horrobin
Dale Carnegie once said, “If we want to make friends, let’s put ourselves out to do things for other people – things that require time, energy, unselfishness and thoughtfulness.”
I couldn’t agree more!
If there is one season out of the year where the opportunity to employ such sound advice exists, it would be the season of Christmas.
We live in a culture that uses this special time of the year to drag us headlong into the vortex of frenzy and greed at the expense of thinking of the needs of others.
The Bible says in Philippians 2:4: “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Wouldn’t it be refreshing if, along with the all the parties and presents we enjoy at Christmas, we also took time to plan, yes actually plan, to reach out to others in their need?
You could bring some Christmas baking to a widow or widower; visit someone in the hospital or nursing home; volunteer at one of the Salvation Army kettles; or even purchase a gift for a child from a women’s shelter or Children’s Aid.
You may be wondering where you are going to find time for such things, but as Dale Carnegie said, doing things for others does cost you, be it time, money, or energy.
Nevertheless, when something matters to you, you find a way to make it happen.
Let’s do that for others.
It’s what Jesus would do and it is His birthday we are celebrating after all, isn’t it?
