Humbug to Hallelujah: Valuing Relationships

The focus on spending and things can truly cause us to forget what Christmas is all about. Recently I was reading about the ecological problem caused by millions of plastic shopping bags. One solution was to purchase reusable bags. But even that can get out of hand - as noted in this article:

Never Mind What's in Them, Bags Are the Fashion

Our consuming society can blind us to the importance of relationships - to turn our "humbugs" into "hallelujahs," we would do well to rediscover the importance of relationships, especially at Christmas time.


The Bible gives us fair warning of the danger of focusing on material things. The Proverbs are especially helpful:

PROVERBS 17:1. Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.

PROVERBS 15:16. Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

PROVERBS 11:24. Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.

PROVERBS 11:28. Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.


In Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Scrooge's vision of Christmas Present was quite a "wake up call." He saw the impoverished Cratchit family enjoying each other as Christmas, despite their poverty. He found they had riches that he did not have.

Joseph is also an example of one who valued relationships. Read how he handled the crisis of Mary's pregnancy - in Matthew 1:18-25.

What do you notice about Joseph? How might he reacted had he not valued relationships?

By the way - see what you can determine about the economic status of Joseph and Mary by reading these two short Scripture passages - one from the New Testament and one from the Old:

Luke 2:22-24

Leviticus 12:6-8



THOUGHTS:

I believe in God's master plan for the interaction of lives. He moves people in and out of each other's lives, and each leaves his mark on the other. You find you are made up of bits and pieces of everyone who ever touched your life.
- A. Dudley Dennison, Jr.

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing others' loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.
- W. C. Jones

If any of you have any quarrels, or misunderstandings, or coolnesses, or cold shoulders, or shynesses, or tiffs, or miffs, or huffs, with anyone else, just make friends before Christmas - you will be so much merrier if you do. I ask it of you for the sake of that old angelic song, heard so many years ago by the shepherds, keeping watch by night, on Bethlehem heights.
- Charles Dickens

Somehow, not only for Christmas,
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessings
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing
Returns to you glad.
- John Greenleaf Whittier


SOME POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS:

• Think of a long-lost friend or relative with whom you can reconnect this Christmas season.

• Is there someone who was a big influence in your life who could use a big "Thank You," even if their efforts took place many years ago?

• Think of someone who is a long way from their home of origin. Find a way to be a blessing to them!

• Who could be your Cratchit family this year - someone who could use a helping hand?

• Get a photo of your family when you were young, and pray over it. Offer thanks to the Lord for what has happened in your family since the photo was taken. If needed, shed tears of joy, or perhaps tears of regret. Ask God how you can be like Tiny Tim and bless your family. Don't let other people's "Humbugs" keep you from reaching out.

• Do something for someone who can do nothing for you in return.

MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

When we prayerfully examine the relationships that shove us into humbug
experiences, we can expect God to give us remarkable ideas for reconnecting with
those sometimes difficult personalities. These divine insights will help us celebrate
others and give Tiny Tim–like blessings far beyond our human abilities to grant.

• Can you think of someone who played a significant role in your past?

• Should you contact one such person to renew the friendship and express your Christian love?

• Who might that be, and what would you say?

• Would it be fitting to issue a “Christmas pardon” to someone you have been angry with?

• What appropriate action might you take (e.g., sending a Christmas card)?

• Is there someone in need this Christmas you can reach out to in Jesus’ name?

• Ask the Lord to make you especially sensitive to others’ needs at this special time of year.

For more practical suggestions about valuing relationships at Christmas, see pages 44–45 in the Devotional Calendar.


MAKE THIS YOUR PRAYER:

Dear Lord, too often I forget what's really important. Forgive me. Help me to value the people you have put into my life before it is too late - both for them and for me. I thank you for the way you showed your love by sending Jesus, your Son, to earth. May I trust him, and may I show his love to all I meet. Lord, comfort those whose hearts are broken. And where possible, allow me to be part of the healing. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.