When Someone Says it Better

“In spite of the many benefits God has blessed us with, how many times do we complain about little difficulties and trials? We lose sight of the big picture and fail to appreciate the really important things. Just as we cannot benefit from a wrapped gift under a Christmas tree until we open it, so gratitude can be seen as our way of opening the gift of God's love intended by all the small and big positive events of our lives.”
~Ronda De Sola Chervin

I saw this quote and immediately knew that I had to use it. We take so much for granted and just give ourselves all the credit for our successes and blame others for our failures. This is human nature. It is us in our protective mode. We do possess the ability to be honest with ourselves. Of course we can accept our successes but appreciate that someone had to teach us how to be a success. It is a little more difficult to accept our failures but it does make us stronger. This is all possible through the gifts that God gives us.

This week we will spend a lot of time checking our Christmas list and making sure we have remembered everyone. We may have to rush out because we forgot someone. Don’t beat yourself up for this / it is natural. Our next step will be to carefully wrap and tag each gift and put them under the tree or deliver them. On Christmas morning how would you feel if the gifts you had placed under the tree were either lost amid the wrapping paper and went unnoticed. How would you feel if it was opened or set aside and was not appreciated?

Christmas is the time we remember the birth of Christ and we look forward to His return at the end of the world. Jesus is the gift to mankind. He is the present and through the Holy Spirit presents us with gifts to help us live a successful spiritual life.

This Christmas as you are wrapping gifts and preparing for Christmas say a prayer for all those whose gifts were set aside. There is a way for them to find the missing or discarded gift. Help them to return to their faith or accept it for the first time. Help them to find and accept the gift.

May God give you and your family much peace, joy and love

Jeanne Schneider, Pastoral  Assistant

689-4900 ext. 314               e-mail: jschneider@ststephencatholic.org.