Reach Out, Someone Needs You

Everyone seems to know what Christmas is all about. Family. Giving. Sacrifice. Toys. Trees. Connections. Whatever. Every advertiser tells us what they think this season is here for. Are they right? Or can we create our perspective of the season?

Sifting through my world of contacts, I know some people have no one to connect with. Lonely and alone. Shut-Ins. Incarcerated. Hospitalized.

“I’m glad that’s not me!” says one, but I’m not a Grinch, either!

The remainder of us? We are hard at work handling our busy lives as we rest on laurels of achievement, strutting our stuff between the nog and fire. A long winter’s nap, the promise of snow, and cool weather make the season feel just right.

Except, and we all know exceptions. There’s that nagging thought of someone alone for the first time. A Tiny Tim who needs something other than a lump of coal. A scrooge who is worse than an introvert. Bah! Humbug! What’s all this fuss about Christmas?

When we try and understand the season from a commercialized view, our outlook is often one of greed and filthy lucre, crowds and noise, and just a slight feeling of being lost. When we put Christ into the story, suddenly, we see things a different way. His story was a long time unfolding, but he came for everyone. I imagine his theme for the season:

Reach out and touch someone. You are needed.

Growing Up Years

I cannot say I remember everything, and what I do remember is shaded by years and decades of stories. Way back, I remember mom and dad registering with the local boy’s home just a few miles away. In today’s vernacular, they offered to be what we would call a “Big Brother or Big Sister.” These boys would come to our house and spend a weekend. They would sleep in our room, play with us, and even cook breakfast. It was not perfect for them, nor us, but the sacrifice of giving up time for someone else sets the tone for my thought today.

Equally, I remember getting leave from the house to spend time with family. Some close, others a little out of the way, but the fun we had of staying elsewhere felt like a new Christmas gift no matter the time of the year.

Maybe this is what we are missing during these seasons—reaching out and being there for someone. A friendly call. A chat across the backyard fence. A lovely card dropped in the mail. Whatever works for you is fine, but we all know how thoughtful it is when someone does it to us. Let’s reciprocate.

It’s Christmas

The familiar stories of shepherds and wise men haunt our celebration these days. Who’s in awe? Did you hear an angel? Where is His star? What culturally appropriate and timely gift did you get for someone? What you do and who you reach does not need to be published. It’s how Jesus approached the topic that makes a lot of sense.

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them.
Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Therefore, when you do a charitable deed,
do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
that they may have glory from men.
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
But when you do a charitable deed,
do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
that your charitable deed may be in secret;
and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV

He goes on and teaches the same way with prayer, and that leads to his teaching of what we call “The Lord’s Prayer.” Could it be that we have better access to God when we do things in secret? When everyone knows we are doing something, that’s the reward we were looking for. But when we keep it quiet, God has a more effective reward system than any of us could imagine.

Give, and it will be given to you:
good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.
For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38 NKJV

Here’s a secret. The “Law of the Harvest” is not about what you reap. It’s about what you give. Give liberally, secretly, and you will receive more than you can imagine. From your abundance you provide, but that Widow’s Mite given from her all? It was more worthy than the rich who gave, and it cost nothing to the bottom line. So. Reach out! Someone Needs You!