Grace

I am a bit of a grinch when it comes to Christmas gifts. I enjoy the music, being with family, and I do like the holiday treats. I have not even started shopping yet. I might make gifts for my family, who knows....

As a culture we have desecrated a holiday that is meant for a humble baby born in a manger offering love to this world.

The U.S. spends over 5 billion dollars on gifts. People across the world lack food, clean water, and basic needs.

This baby boy, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger came for all of us. He was a human being who roamed this earth.

Last week at school one of the girls in the class came with a gift for me. She lives in a homeless shelter with her Mom and three siblings. The woman who runs the shelter gave each kid a bag with a few games, and little trinkets. This little girl came into school with her bag, and held onto it all day saying she would show me what was in it later. At the end of the day, she pulled me aside and said "this is for you, 'Merry Christmas.' " As a seven year old child taught me more about grace, and accepting a beautiful gift in my grinch-like state, may we all remember to love one another... To love amidst the stress, and consumption of our culture. May we remember to see people, to hear people, and to be among each other.