Warm Winter Wishes, Closing the Cold Behind Us

As we retreat indoors this season and trim our trees with warm lights, we will purposely close the cold outside. What will we use our strength to close the door to this Christmas season; what will we refuse to let in other than the sharp wind?

 

Perhaps this season we will close the door to harsh words, gathering gossip, needless strife, gnawing anxiety, ridicule served in the cover of sarcasm, the blame game that goes round-and-round, hampering guilt, destructive shaming, biting bitterness, undealt-with jealousies, unhelpful comparison, and you’re not-good-enough innuendos to loved ones.

 

Instead, we will purposefully challenge ourselves to handpick the best provisions from our hearts for family and friends that we can. We will try to gather in the goodness of gracious patience, a celebration of differences, kindhearted honesty, sincere compliments, and overflowing thankfulness that these special people are even present. This will warm our hearts and homes.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8B NIV