Reflections on the day

Christmas fast approaches. All the while we busy ourselves with checking off our lists, finishing off buying gifts for those people we don't want to miss out on, and just tiding up all those loose ends of Christmas. As I reflect on it all I am reminded how inadequate I feel as a person at Christmas. I always tend to see that I have somehow missed out on and shortchanged those in need. Oh, I give to this one and that one but the bigger picture includes all those who don't have and who might even wake up on the street. This presents me with a dilemna: did I miss out once again on spreading enough of the wealth God has given me? Mind you these last years I have been learning a lesson of what it is to walk in a poor man' shoes but I still have more than the shoe-less man or woman!
I am not sure where I am going with this except to say I feel like I owe God an apology. Perhaps next year I will do better. "Perhaps" is a big word but it takes me to a hopeful stance that somehow God will give me the grace I need to see beyond myself this coming year in a bigger way to reach out more to those in need.
How about you? Do any of you out there ever feel inadequate at this time of year? I know you all have to deal with different things like family members who let you down, or died, or somehow rejected you. I know these are important and I have had to deal with all these issues. But in the bigger picture perhaps (and I say that hopefully)we need to realize the importance of letting go, letting God, and reaching out past these personal issues. Let us not allow bitteness and resentment to prevent us from sharing our hearts and souls to those really in need.
Do you know what I mean people? True growth means being able to take full stock of ourselves, forgive those who hurt us, and get on to these bigger issues of the vast majority's poverty that smacks us in the face every time we turn on a Joyce Meyer show or a World vision program. For heaven sakes, we feed the animals and send money off to Peta. Does it end there? What is Christmas all about anyways?
I think we forgot Christmas began with Christ. Do you know what I learned the other day; that Boxing Day began over 800 years ago and it started in the church. It was the church opening its poor box to those in need! In this 2009th year of our Lord, Boxing Day has become a selfish, greed filled, day where eveyone runs around feverishly trying to buy up everything they can. Perhaps this Boxing Day we can revive the 800 year old tradition or make it a new one! Let us open up our hearts to those we see who are without. At least I think I will. Is that to appease some guilty heart? Perhaps. But someday I will have to answer for a selfish heart. I would prefer to appease my guilt than hang my selfish head before God. There are many begging Lazarus among us. Let us remember Christ at Christmas was born in a poor manger and remember the reason for the season.
I know I will and I have.
God bless you all