Almost every Saturday I join some friends for dinner. Unlike me, all my friends have lived here for years, some born and raised in the area. A couple of my friends attend church, others do not. They know a lot about what goes on and they say the churches are full of hypocrites. I offer, “Maybe they go because church is helping them live better lives.” Not the case, say my friends. Sadly, I have to agree some do go to church only to look good for political or social reasons. As a Christian comedian puts it, “They wear the hat but the shoes don’t match.” What a sad commentary. Let’s be more than card-carrying Christians, let’s walk the walk Jesus walked.

She wasn’t exceeding the speed limit so she wondered about the flashing lights behind her. My friend, on her way to celebrate Christmas with her family, waited nervously to learn why she was stopped. She had not had a ticket in all her years of driving. She knew he would want her driver’s license so when the policeman came to her car window she whipped out her card and handed it to him. With a little smile he handed the card back. “Lady, if you’re trying to bribe me, I only take cash.” In her haste, she had handed him her credit card instead of her driver’s license. As it turned out, she only received a warning for a minor offense, and it didn’t cost her anything. I love living in Texas!

My car lights automatically go off as the countryside comes alive with light. The horses and cows are already grazing, thankful for those early warming rays after a cold night.  A new day dawns, reminding me of the astounding, radiant light brought by our Savior into the dark abyss of this evil world. A light of mercy, grace and forgiveness available to all. A new dawn! A new beginning!  That’s what he offers. Good news! That’s the gospel message we’re to share with the world in this New Year!

When my neighbor answered the door, I said, “I didn’t know you had put in a little pond.” “What?” my neighbor responded. “I heard gurgling water and thought you had added a small pool in your backyard.” “No, we haven’t,” she said as she looked across the yard. Her husband heard us, came and looked and then had to admit he had left some water on in the back for more than a week. After he turned it off, he said, “You earned your pay today!” I laughed. Unknowingly I gave them a better Christmas gift that day than the little one I had in my hand. God works in interesting ways!

As I settled in for my flight, a man took the middle seat beside me. He was coughing the familiar Covid cough! I put my mask on. As we buckled in, he leaned over and said he wasn’t contagious, his cough just hadn’t gone away. I commiserated but kept my mask on. Who knows if he were telling me the truth. I was wary of Covid and of flu infections in the closed-in space anyway. The only one I want to be infected by is Jesus. Yes, Jesus is contagious! The closer our relationship with him, the more we will be like him. And, then we will be contagious as well! Let’s be contagious like Jesus!

Is there someone you’re not happy with right now? They’ve disappointed you in some way or maybe even hurt you deeply. Or, like me, you’re disgusted with some of our politicians or media stars and their antics. The tyrannical leaders of some countries live in luxury while their people starve. What’s not to hate! While abhorring the evils in this world, let’s not forget God sent his Son because he loved the world and all the people in it. People of every color and religion, atheists, murderous hateful people, all people. Thank you, blessed God, for your mercy and for a love for us sinners so great you gave the most precious gift of all, your Son.

He was expected to come in a blaze of glory amid a host of sword-waving angels, but he didn’t. He came as we all did, as a tiny baby, helpless and vulnerable, totally dependent on his parents’ care. He came not as a fierce avenger but as a shepherd who diligently watches over his flock and gently holds them in his arms when they are hurting. He came to save not destroy. His own refused to recognize such a man as their Messiah. How much more today do we need to view him as he is, the Savior of all, not a vengeful, angry god like the gods of the Greeks and Romans. May we, as his followers, not condemn but love our neighbors, no matter who they are. Jesus does!

Remember the story of the talents in Matthew 25? After looking up what a talent was worth, anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000, what those men were given, even the one who received only one talent, was not a measly amount. As you know the first two were wise stewards but the third didn’t invest his, he buried it out of fear. Did this fearful steward really know and trust his master? The word talent today has a different meaning. We think of talents as special abilities or proclivities, but the parable of the talents still speaks to us. Are we using the talents we’ve been given? How well do we really know our Master? Are we afraid or do we trust him to be a good Master who is always with us and rewards us when we serve him?

Though we set aside a special day each year to be grateful, it’s never not the right time for gratitude. I’m thankful for so much, but especially thankful for you who read these words of mine every week. Why share them if nobody wants to read them! There’s no fun in that. I may or may not know you personally, but I always pray what I write will touch your heart in some way. Thank you for continuing to read Briefly Speaking. I wouldn’t write it if it wasn’t for you. My thanks to you and may you have a most happy, joyous Thanksgiving!

Lord, we are your beloved children. You reside in us and we reside in you. Our sins are forgiven and forgotten. Our eternity with you is guaranteed. You don’t need our works or our help in any way. Nothing we can do will make you love us any more than you already do. Help us to relax and just be who we are in you.