Speaking of hustle and bustle, yesterday I found myself in HEB, with just about every other person in Houston. All around the store baskets were quickly being pushed around as people rushed passed each other trying to fulfill their grocery lists. Some people looked angry as they navigated through the basket traffic, and others didn't even bother to look up and acknowledge the people next to them. Baskets were filled to the brim with food of all sorts. The scanners echoed loudly throughout the check out lines. And yet, through all of this hustle and bustle, there was little excitement. People were rushed, stressed, and some down-right angry. I have to admit, I was one of them. I just needed to get my errands taken care of, and get back home to the next thing on my list. I made it to my car at the very back of the parking lot, slung my groceries in, then jumped in my seat to take a quick breather. I sat for a moment, then took off to accomplish the next thing on my list.
This morning, I decided I needed a little break from the rat race we call life. I headed down to L&F to see the people there. As I was walking up, I heard joyful voices, music, and lots of laughing. The smell of fried chicken hung in the air, and all around there were smiles! "Welcome!" An unfamiliar voice greeted me. Turns out today was an early Thanksgiving celebration. A local police officer and several ministries from his community got together to put the event on. Y'all, it was awesome! There was home cooking, a DJ, and best of all pure happiness. It looked like one big family reunion. Everyone was dancing and visiting, laughing and smiling. As I visited with several homeless people they couldn't help but express how happy and thankful they were. It's funny ya know, these people have no turkey dinner, no home, and some no family, yet here they were rejoicing and celebrating. As many got their plates, they took time to say grace, and give thanks for the food and fellowship. Today, under that roof, there was no division, just love and joy. People with plenty and people with nothing. Black, white, and brown. Religious, and not religious. Conservative and liberal. Yet instead of any negativity, the air was filled with joy, thankfulness, giving and of course that fried chicken smell! This was the kind of joy that could leave any heart filling so full.
Y'all the holidays can be hard. I get it. Whether it's the loss of someone, disagreements and division within families, the stress of hosting, or many other things. But this holiday season we have 2 choices. We can allow the busyness, and the stress to steal our joy. We can spend time frustrated, angry and ready for the holidays to end, or we can chose the opposite. You can choose joy. You can choose to be joyful and give thanks in the little things. Besides, if you are reading this, I bet you have a lot to be thankful for. This Holiday season you will have a roof to celebrate under, food to eat, and a bed to sleep in. Some don't even have that, yet they will be so joyful this season. You may find them on park benches or under bridges, but I guarantee you, you will find them telling you how blessed they are. They can find such blessing in their humble lives. Find the blessings in your life.
This season give gifts! Give the gift of love. Give the gift of joy. See these aren't physical gifts. They don't cost you any money, yet these gifts are somehow always the most valuable and memorable. Allow yourself to live in the moment. Throughout this season I challenge you to find small opportunities to be thankful and to give! When you see the homeless person at a stoplight, give them a smile. When you wake up each morning be thankful for something as simple as the sunrise, find the little things, and watch them transform into big things. Allow this season of thankfulness and giving to move you. It's easy to get caught up in the busyness and hustle and bustle, but just try and be present. Be present in each beautiful little moment. Joy comes in many forms, and you never know if the moment you chose to be present and embrace the joy will be the moment you see the angels among us.
Matthew 25:35-40
No comments:
Post a Comment