A CHRISTMAS WISH
by Rosa Lovejoy
During the Christmas season many of us scurry about to find the perfect gift for that special someone. Often at great expense we try to fit the gift to what we know about the person-the likes and dislikes and we also hope somebody will love us enough and think we are special enough to give us a gift too. The major focus is on the loving relationships we have formed through the years or new connections we have made recently.
The human need for love and acceptance is universal and having those needs met in a healthy way is essential to our well being. We hear love all the time in songs and innumerable books have been written about how “love makes the world go round but loving is often hard work. In the hustle and bustle of the 21st century, it often seems we have forgotten how to love in a real way. As I get older I realize that it is necessary to slow down to love somebody and there are some questions to ponder which I believe will help us to build a solid foundation for healthy adult relationships. These character traits are in the form of an acronym may help give us pause during the holidays and beyond-HARK!
Honesty Do I have the courage to tell the truth? Do I keep my word?
Acceptance Do I care about what is important to you? Am I willing to help you achieve your dreams?
Respect Do I hold you in high regard? Are your feelings important to me?
Kindness Do I forgive myself and others? Am I willing to put your needs ahead of my own?
The love I show to others tells a lot about me and maybe I will only be able to love a few people in my lifetime but my goal is to love as Jesus did. We don’t all love in the same way but the foundation of true love is always the same. I am learning that it takes a lot of practice but, the way I show love to you reveals the kind of person I am and what my heart is like. LOVE TAKES TIME. And perhaps this is the best gift I can give to the special people in my life this Christmas.
| Name | Size | Type | Last Modified |
| TFAM article - Resolving Honest Conflict | 24 KB | Microsoft Word Document | 2/26/2009 11:19:51 AM |
| TFAM article - Leaving a Legacy | 25 KB | Microsoft Word Document | 2/26/2009 11:19:53 AM |
| TFAM article - Praying for our Leaders | 24.5 KB | Microsoft Word Document | 2/26/2009 11:19:55 AM |
| TFAM article -Learning to Talk | 24.5 KB | Microsoft Word Document | 2/26/2009 11:19:56 AM |
| TFAM article - Three Magic Words | 24 KB | Microsoft Word Document | 2/26/2009 11:19:58 AM |
| TFAM article - Having an Intentional Marriage | 35.6 KB | File | 3/12/2009 12:57:34 PM |