For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever” 1 Peter 1:24-25 (NIV)
No matter how important and
busy we think we are, only those we love are of true value. I’ve thought a lot about
how quickly time slips away and withers like grass. If your dad is eighty-five
years old, you may have only two to five Christmases left with him. When did you
call him last? When were you last there for the Christmas ham?
If your sister has health
problems, you may have only two or three New Year’s Eve celebrations with her.
If your brother is going back to the middle-east in mid-December, there may not
be another Christmas to say, “I’m glad you’re here.”
If your son or daughter has
a Christmas pageant on December 21, the last day of school before Christmas
break, but you have a business meeting the same evening, there may not be
another Christmas between you to say, “I’m here for you because I love you.”
Don’t let time wither like
grass or fall to the ground like the browned peddles of dead flowers. Time is a
gift. Once the present has been rejected, ignored or squandered, that moment will
never be given back—no do-overs—no maybe-next-year. Today is the only real there is. It won’t wait for you,
and you can never catch up. You can only write that letter to a dying friend
while they are still here to read and enjoy it.
Who is on your Christmas
list? Let this be the Christmas that joy and love return to your heart, when time
with those you love, top what you want. How many Christmases remain in your
relationship with someone? Let us pray:
“Holy Father, Abba of
Christ, I bow before your holy name. May your kingdom come into the world
during this blessed time so that all may find your peace at the side of the
manger. For this Christmas, I want nothing for myself. I only ask that those who
are sick are free from pain; those who are lonely may find a friend; those I
have forgotten may be first in my thoughts. Forgive me for when I have been
selfish; for when I have crossed your son’s name out of his own birthday and
chose to celebrate things; and for when I have wasted the precious time you
have given me. In the name of the Christ in Christmas I pray. Amen”
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His
love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2016 Doris Gaines Rapp
Length of Days trilogy, by Doris
Gaines Rapp: All three are available in paperback and eBook at Amazon.com and
Barnes and Noble.com, as well at Cokesbury.com
Length of Days – The Age of
Silence (© 2014)
Length of Days – Beyond the
Valley of the Keepers (© 2015)
Length of Days – Search for
Freedom (© 2016)
News at Eleven - A Novel
Hiawassee – Child of the Meadow
Smoke from Distant Fires
Escape from the Belfry
Escape from the Shadows – sequel
will be out in late 2016 or early 2017
Another blog: www.dorisgainesrapp.blogspot.com
Website: www.dorisgainesrapp.com
