A Thirty Day Christmas Challenge

“Thanks to you and your family last Xmas, I was able to get where I needed to go and now I am on my feet with a decent job, good vehicle and living a life that is better for me.”

This note was sent to me today by someone we were able to help last year. Understand — it wasn’t just me and my family, unless we say ALL OF YOU who contributed are “Family.” And perhaps, that is the best way to look at it.

Listen. If Gratitude is the antidote for fear and stress, then the clearest, most tangible form of gratitude is giving. Tithing. Helping. It is saying to the universe: “you have given me plenty. Enough that I have enough to help others.” A beautiful thing.

I’ve seen people complain about parents teaching children about Santa Claus. To me, Santa is the spirit of gratitude, of believing in plenty. Of sharing. It is a beautiful story that children grow out of…but the seed is planted, and for so many of us, lasts a lifetime. I LOVED playing Christmas games with my kids, and in some ways preferred the myth. The touch of magic and mystery.

Adulthood comes soon enough, and so many adults lose that sense of magic in their lives. They feel like they know it all, and what they know is…bad.

“I tried everything…”

“There’s no way to…”

“Nobody can…”

Do you hear these comments? They don’t pass the Three Gates.