“THINK” Before You Speak

Christmas is a very special time.  It is a time of family, traditions, great food, and getting gifts. Who doesn’t love getting gifts?  There is time off from work, seeing old friends, beautiful decorations and something we all take for granted….giving gifts.  Who doesn’t love to give gifts?  When I was little we always attended church on Christmas Eve.  I remember this was a big deal because we got to stay up late, wear really cool clothes and see all our friends.  The church was warm inside as it was usually freezing outside and we would all sit in awe listening to  the story of Jesus being born. I remember how everyone smiled.  Christmas is a time of kindness.  It is a time when bah humbug is not considered a good thing.  The season starts with Thanksgiving and being thankful and runs straight through to that magically time of Christmas. Kindness and helping others is just cool.  Why can’t that happen every day?

As I woke up this morning I heard the story about Maura Kelly a blogger from Marie Claire. Her blog was Should “Fatties” Get a Room (Even on TV).  The TV stations had heard about this blog and as content has a way of moving thru time and space (twilight zone music cue) it was all that was being talked about.  Her blog was scathing against people that were heavy.  It was pretty brutal and honestly it frustrated me very much.  Not because she had written it, but because she felt she could.  She felt it was OK to write such harsh words.  Who knows why someone does the things that they do.  I am a pretty simple girl, don’t judge others. Again as I have said before, I am not perfect.  But, since I like to follow Jesus, I figure he said, Do not judge others, or you too will be judged…Matt7:1NIV so I do my best to repeat that when needed.  As I struggle with not judging Maura Kelly (say the verse), I was reminded about THINK.  Jud Whilhite, a pastor at Central Christian Church in Las Vegas once said, before you say anything THINK. THINK is a way to test if what you say is worth being said at all…  Remember THINK…. is what I am about to say Truthful, Helpful, Inspirational, Needed, and Kind….THINK.

When Jonathan became a member of The Santa Club so long ago, we were blessed with the story that is now in the book. Along with being a great member you have to put others first. At Christmas we do that all the time.  We shop for others, we cook for others, and we decorate so others can enjoy it.  Every preparation of Christmas is doing things for others.  What if that is the blessing of Christmas?  What if people are happier because they are not thinking of themselves, but thinking of others??  What if we started doing that with every word we said or wrote?  What if we THINK before we speak or write?

I pray that The Santa Club is a book that reminds me of the importance of The Gift of Giving. That it reminds me, always, that giving is more than a physical gift and that my words can be the most important gift of all.  Then every day will be a Christmas type day, every day will be A Santa Club Day.  May your day and every day be a Santa Club Day.

Kelly

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