nitty gritty

Christmas comes and goes every year and we engage in a bunch of stuff, busyness takes over, parties, shopping, cooking, eating, cards, family, crisis, loneliness, joy, peace, happiness… what a great holiday season!  I mean it.  What other time in our lives comes every year when we run such avast range of emotions and experiences?  When else and where else do we live life so truly raw?  We want nothing more than to give and be generous, yet we also want nothing more than to feel like we matter to others.  Some of us find the holiday loathsome and dread the memories and pain that this time of year seems to dig up from our hearts.  Still, most agree that it is a time of great expectation.  It is a season that carries greatness.

Last night I stood in the water with a young lady, Jessica Garrison (pictured below) as she made the greatest decision she will ever make!  Anyone’s decision to follow the way of Jesus as their Lord instead of their own way that never seems to work out, is the greatest decision one will make… greater than who we decide to marry, what we decide for a career, where we will live… GREATNESS!

I thought as I stood there with Jessica, whether or not we all get it.  Jessica was surrendering her life to Jesus Christ as her Lord & Savior right smack-dab in the middle of the season that is the celebration of His birth.  The visitation of the Almighty to our dirty, painful and broken earthen life, as a baby who would become a king!  How absurd!  So as we celebrate, sometimes appropriately, the birth of the Savior, Jessica meets Him face-to-face!  that is greatness seasoned with honest, repentant love!

Here’s, I guess, where the manger hits the road!  Can we season all of our seasons with greatness?  Can we be generous, caring and hopeful in March?  Can I surrender each day and give myself away to love people I will never meet or even get a “Thanks,” from?  Can the attitude I have about this season become a lifestyle? If I can daily remember that I am in great need of a Jesus, then my life will, by Him, become greatness seasoned.

I hope you have a miraculous Christmas & New Year!