Mistakes to Avoid when Chasing your Dreams

At the start of this year, many of us have made resolutions and most of these are usually centered around our dreams. Everyone always says, “Follow your dreams!” But not everyone does it. Life interjects, bills pile up, and sometimes we have to do jobs we don’t want to do just to make it through the day. So what do we do then? Go after our dreams, just daydream about it, or accept the fact that you will never achieve it?At the start of a new year many of us feel motivated to follow our dreams, to break the trend, and to live the life we’ve always wanted.

Your time is limited so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.

Steve Jobs

Pursuing our dreams isn’t an easy ride. The twists and curves you’ve encountered may have left you full of negative thoughts and doubting your ability to succeed. To keep your dreams alive, you must avoid making certain mistakes. You must realize that you’re the pilot, and you can take charge of your dreams and fly to places you’ve never been.

We dream to give ourselves hope. To stop dreaming—well, that’s like saying you can never change your fate.

Amy Tan

Here are some of the mistakes I’ve learned through experience which I’d like to share today

1. Letting discouragement overwhelm you.

Take the risk. Are you going to be scared? Oh, yes, you’ll be petrified. Remember, it’s not going to be a straight path. Take mini steps and be consistent with your work.

Even if you don’t reach the goal you’ve set, you’ll learn, grow, and perhaps even find new opportunities through the process of stretching yourself.

Believe in yourself and the possibility of your dreams coming true, without letting discouragement rob you of the faith you have in yourself.

2. Denying your current situation.

If your current situation is not ideal, don’t live in denial. If you do, you won’t be able to deal with the obstacles you’re currently facing. Doing nothing won’t change your situation or bring you any closer to your dreams. Before long, you will hit the wall and crash, and possibly fall into a depression.

Instead, accept the situation you’re in and then work toward changing it. You have more power than you realize. Trust and believe in yourself. However small the change happens, be grateful.

3. Dwelling on the past.

Holding on to a painful past will fill you with doubts when you’re trying to pursue your dreams. You won’t be able to handle obstacles that arise and you’ll spend your energy on worries and regrets.

You’ll be afraid to make decisions because of past experiences. You’ll hold yourself back from claiming opportunities when they arise.

So, let the past be gone but cling to the good memories, and when things are rocky look at the past and smile. Let the bad be a learning experience, let learning produce growth, and let growth bring you closer to your goal.

4. Procrastinating.

It can be deadly. Time wasted cannot be recovered. It’s just like a river; once you touch the water flowing past you, it will never flow back toward you again. Do what you’re supposed to do, when it’s supposed to be done.

5. Neglecting your body.

Don’t ever forget to take care of your body. Treat it like a temple. If you don’t, you will get sick, mentally and physically, and this will prevent you from working toward your goal.

However hard you’re working take time off to exercise, and don’t forget to eat healthy foods. Don’t starve yourself! :)

6. Waiting for help to chase you.

Knock on doors. Will doors be shut on you? Sure, more than you can count.

Sometimes we ask for help anticipating getting our way. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. If doors close, go in through the window. If that means changing the course of your plan, please do so; change will not mean losing your dream.

7. Taking it personally when people judge you.

Everyone will judge you by how you look, what you eat, how you live, everything! When people judge, it has more to do with their own fears and insecurities than you

Turn a deaf ear to these judgments. Feel proud of the journey you’re taking.

8. Dwelling on the negative.

It’s impossible to only focus on the positive, but dwelling on the negative all the time is like a bomb waiting to explode. Your thoughts will hold you hostage from making progress and your mind will be filled with doubt.

Allow yourself to feel the negative. Cry if you have to, but don’t let it take over you.

Releasing your negative feelings will leave you at peace and you will be able to focus on the positive even in tough times.

A positive attitude will help you decide the best strategy for achieving your goals.

9. Comparing yourself to others.

Comparison leads to jealousy and envy. It can kill friendships if not tamed.

Celebrate the success of others instead of being jealous. Let them know you admire them. Turn the focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have and be grateful for it.

10. Trying to get approval for your dream.

Your dream is a vehicle, and you’re the driver. Don’t let the passengers map the road for you. Stop trying to win over the people who don’t believe in you and criticize you. Only seek help from those who support your mission and encourage you, because they will cheer you on along the way.

Hold fast to your dream.

Gear up to fight the storms.

Keep that banner shining.

Never give up, and never give in.

Stand up and face the fear!

Your dream is counting on you.

Do you believe you can pursue it?

Happy New Year

As we start this new year, I thought I’d share this lovely message I received from a friend.

I want to share two old stories with you, and see how you would choose in these situations.

Story One
A certain company had a tradition of holding a party and a lottery every Christmas Eve.

The rules of the lottery draw were as follows: each employee pays ten dollars as a fund. There were three hundred people in the company. In other words, a total of three thousand dollars can be raised. The winner takes all the money home.

On the day of the lottery draw, the office was filled with a lively atmosphere. Everyone wrote their names on the slips of paper and put them in the lottery box.

However, a young man hesitated when he wrote. Because he thought that the company’s Cleaning lady’s frail and sickly son was going to have an operation soon after the dawn of New Year but she did not have the required money to pay for the operation, which made her quite troubled.

So, even though he knew that the chance of winning was slim, with only a 0.33 percent chance, the man wrote the name of the Cleaner lady on the note.

The tense moment came. The boss doubled in the lottery box, and finally drew out a note. The man also kept praying in his heart: hoping against hope that the Cleaning lady can win the prize…Then the boss carefully announced the winner’s Name, a miracle happened!

The winner turned out to be the Cleaning lady. Cheers broke out in the office, and the Cleaning lady hurriedly rushed to the stage to accept the award. She almost burst into tears and said, ” I am so fortunate and blessed! With this money, my son now has hope!”

At the beginning of the party, while thinking about this “Christmas miracle”, the man paced to the lottery box.
He took out a piece of paper and opened it casually.
The name on it was also the name of the Cleaning lady!
The man was very surprised.
He took out several pieces of paper one after another.
Although the handwriting on them was different, the names were all the same, all of them were the names of the Cleaning lady The man’s eyes were filled with tears and he clearly understood that there was a Christmas miracle in the world, but the miracle will not fall from the sky, the people were required to create it by themselves!

“Story Two”
One afternoon, I went for a walk with a friend in the suburbs. Suddenly, an old man in tattered clothes approached us with a bag of green vegetables in his hand.
The sales of those vegetables on that day were very poor, the leaves seemed dehydrated and yellowish and there were holes in them as if bitten by insects.
But my friend bought three bags without saying a word.
The old man also embarrassedly explained: “I grew these vegetables myself. It rained a while ago, and the vegetables were soaked. They look ugly. I’m sorry.”

After the old man left, I asked my friend: “Will you really cook these when you go home?”

He didn’t want to say No to me. ” These vegetables can no longer be eaten.”

“Then why did you take the trouble of buying them?” I asked.

He replied, “Because it is impossible for anyone to buy those vegetables.
If I don’t buy it, the old man will probably have no income for today.”

I admired my friend’s thoughtfulness and concern, so I caught up with the old man and bought some vegetables from him.
The old man said very happily, “I tried to sell them the whole day , but no one was ready to buy them.
I am so happy that you both were willing to buy from me…
Thank you so much.”

Several handfuls of green vegetables that I can’t eat at all taught me a valuable lesson.

When we are in a low ebb, we all hope that miracles will happen to us; but when we are capable, are we willing to be the one who creates miracles?!!!

After reading these two stories you have two choices:

1) You can spread it, spread the positive message, and make the world love more.

2) You can also ignore it fully as if you never saw it.

However, your little sharing action may illuminate the destiny of countless unfortunate people. People become successful not only because their dreams get fulfilled, but also even more successful because of their compassionate deeds. You become transformed when you are willing to learn to be compassionate to others.

As we start this new year, let us strive to spread positivity and love every day!

New Day’s Lyric

Poet Amanda Gorman has released a new work, just in time for the year’s end. And like her most famous poem, “The Hill We Climb,” her latest aims to uplift its listeners during a challenging time.

Instagram shared a video of Gorman reciting the poem inside an empty theater.

Read on for Gorman’s full poem, transcribed by Instagram:

May this be the day

Mourning, we come to mend,

We come together.

Withered, we come to weather,

Torn, we come to tend,

Battered, we come to better.

Tethered by this year of yearning,

We are learning

That though we weren’t ready for this,

We have been readied by it.

We steadily vow that no matter

How we are weighed down,

We must always pave a way forward.

This hope is our door, our portal.

Even if we never get back to normal,

Someday we can venture beyond it,

To leave the known and take the first steps.

So let us not return to what was normal,

But reach toward what is next.

What was cursed, we will cure.

What was plagued, we will prove pure.

Where we tend to argue, we will try to agree,

Those fortunes we forswore, now the future we foresee,

Where we weren’t aware, we’re now awake;

Those moments we missed

Are now these moments we make,

The moments we meet,

And our hearts, once all together beaten,

Now all together beat.

Come, look up with kindness yet,

For even solace can be sourced from sorrow.

We remember, not just for the sake of yesterday,

But to take on tomorrow.

We heed this old spirit,

In a new day’s lyric,

In our hearts, we hear it:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne.

Be bold, sang Time this year,

Be bold, sang Time,

For when you honor yesterday,

Tomorrow ye will find.

Know what we’ve fought

Need not be forgot nor for none.

It defines us, binds us as one,

Come over, join this day just begun.

For wherever we come together,

We will forever overcome.

End of Year Reflections

Today is the last day of the year! The end of the year is a time of excitement and reflection. We’re eager to start a new chapter and make a fresh start. Some of us are also reflecting on the past 12 months and reflecting on what went well and what didn’t. We’re contemplating what we can do better.

A basic question that we can all ask is, “Was this year mostly a good year or a bad year?” People will usually think of one or two major life events that determined how the year went. If you had a good year, it’s likely one of these things probably happened for you:

  • Started a new job or career
  • Got married
  • Bought a new house
  • Started a family
  • Gained financial freedom, Freedom from all your loans

There are probably other things that may have made someone’s year good, but this probably covers most of you reading this. If your year wasn’t as good, it’s likely one of these things happened:

  • Lost your job
  • Got a divorce
  • Lost a loved one
  • Dealt with a serious illness
  • Financial loss

These and other factors are probably the reason some of you may feel your year was difficult. Whether your time was good or bad, there are lessons that can be learned from your mistakes.

Unexpected moments in life happen, but our mind has the power to interpret those moments in a way that either helps or hurts us. You can choose to view what happened in the past year as an opportunity to learn and develop, or something that prevents you from moving forward. Through learning the lessons and changing accordingly, we have a chance of making the next year a successful one.

Reflection is a key tool of personal development that can help you achieve more of what you want. Here are some of the questions that help me as I reflect on the year that’s ending.

What moments were good this past year?

What moments were bad this past year?

What things did you do right?

What mistakes did you make?

How did you grow as a person?

How would you have done things differently?

What are you grateful for?

What can you learn more about to make yourself better?

What are your goals and resolutions you plan to achieve next year?

What are some actions you can do to improve next year?

In this year, we saw people doing their best to return to life as they remember it. You may have managed to accomplish that in some ways, but failed in others. But you’ve made it through and you can keep pushing towards living the life that you desire in January. It’s ok if you feel lost and unmotivated today or if you have made mistakes this year. Tomorrow is a brand new start! You are still worthy, loveable and awesome! :)

Truth Triumphs

“Satyamev Jayate” or “Truth always triumphs” has been a phrase we here in India are quite familiar with . Since times immemorial, it has been believed that truth always triumphs and this has been rightly emphasized by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. We achieved independence using the massive weapon .”Satyagraha” which means “The force born out of truth”. How true! Truth generates a force from it, a powerful force which cannot be overlooked.

A person may have several virtues but it is his honesty that sets him apart. It stands as a hallmark to his character. Truth brings with it purity. Truth makes a person strong and builds a concrete personality. Our epics too tell us that a person emerges victorious only if he abides by the truth. In the Mahabharata, it was the truthful Pandavas who emerge victorious after the end of the battle. Though the Kauravas resorted to deceitful means to overpower the Pandavas, it was the Pandavas who emerged victorious. In the Ramayana too Lord Rama achieved victory through his truthfulness and honesty.

While it is true that we see many people climbing up the ladder of success through dishonest means, it is equally true that at the end such success is only short lived. When a person is truthful, not only he is admired but he also commands respect from everyone around him. You may have read the story of the lion and the cow. The lion wants to kill the cow but the cow pleads with the lion saying it has to feed its baby. The lion does not agree to it at first but after repeated persuasions, it agrees to the cow’s request. The lion thinks that the cow has fled but when it returns the lion is filled with love for the cow. It does not kill the cow and leaves it free . Isn’t this a good example to show how truth helps us and how being truthful can save us too!

The classic “Merchant of Venice “ is a another good example. While Shylock is prosperous and rich due to dishonest means, at the end of it all he had to suffer while Antonio , the truthful merchant becomes prosperous . A life of lies will only lead to misery. What starts out as one lie leads to another and the list goes on and on. It would amount to discomfort, guiltiness and worthlessness in the mind of the person. When a person is truthful , he is satisfied. Isn’t that the eventual destination everyone looks for? But when one is not honest, he/she may be getting richer and prosperous but their conscious keeps on pricking. When a person is not truthful, he stands defeated — not in front of anyone else but in his/her own eyes. Isn’t this the most shameful defeat ?

How Mature Are You?

Age alone does not an adult make. But what does? What makes you finally, really an adult? Adulthood is a social construct. For that matter, so is childhood. But like all social constructs, they have real consequences. They determine who is legally responsible for their actions and who is not, what roles people are allowed to assume in society, how people view each other, and how they view themselves. But even in the realms where it should be easiest to define the difference—law, physical development—adulthood defies simplicity.

You can’t drink until you are 21, but legal adulthood, along with voting and the ability to join the army, comes at age 18. Or does it? You’re allowed to watch adult movies at 17. In many countries kids can hold a job as young as 14, depending on state restrictions, and are even allowed to deliver newspapers, babysit, or work for their parents even younger than that.

Chronological age is not a particularly good indicator [of maturity], but it’s something we need to do for practical purposes. We all know people who are 21 or 22 years old who are very wise and mature, but we also know people who are very immature and very reckless. We’re not going to start giving people maturity tests to decide whether they can buy alcohol or not.

There is definitely no certain age at which maturity sets in. In my personal experiences, I’ve observed that age has little or nothing to do with it. I have met young people who are mature well beyond their years, and I’ve known older folks who act childish, only thinking about themselves. So the question is: What are the character traits that show maturity? And do “mature” people exhibit them 100% of the time?

Well, I’m not sure that we can be mature in every situation that presents itself to us because we are always growing and learning as human beings, and I’m pretty sure that all of us have been guilty of at least some of these negative behaviors at least once in our lives. That being said, by considering these 25 tell-tale signs, perhaps we can be more aware of the interludes in which our whiny, complaining, adolescent self rears its immature head…

1. Realizing how much you don’t know.

2. Listening more and talking less.

3. Being aware and considerate of others as opposed to being self-absorbed, self-centered, and inconsiderate.

4. Not taking everything personally, getting easily offended, or feeling the need to defend, prove, or make excuses for yourself.

5. Being grateful and gracious, not complaining.

6. Taking responsibility for your own health and happiness, not relying on others to “fix” you or placing blame for your circumstances.

7. Having forgiveness and compassion for yourself and others.

8. Being calm and peaceful, not desperate, frantic, or irrational.

9. Showing flexibility and openness as opposed to resisting, controlling, or being unreasonable.

10. Helping yourself, not just expecting others to do it for you out of a sense of entitlement.

11. Doing good deeds even when there is nothing in it for you other than knowing you helped, being selfless.

12. Respecting another’s point of view, beliefs, and way of life without judgment, not insisting you are right, belittling another, or using profanity or violence to get your point across.

13. Sharing your good fortune with others.

14. Being able to turn the other cheek without wishing harm on another.

15. Thinking before acting and having good manners, not going off half-cocked, lashing out, or being rude.

16. Encouraging and being supportive of others.

17. Finding joy in the success of someone else, not envy or criticism.

18. Knowing there is always room to grow and improve and reaching out for help.

19. Having humility and laughing at yourself.

20. Recognizing that which does not work in your life and making an effort to do something different.

21. Passing up instant gratification in favor of long term benefits.

22. Accepting, liking, and loving yourself, not needing someone else to “complete” you.

23. Standing up for fairness and justice for yourself and others and choosing to do the right thing.

24. Making sacrifices for the good of others without resentment.

25. Not clinging to materialistic items or bragging.

I’m sure there are probably other signs, but this list covers at least the majority of them. I know we can always do a better job displaying our mature sides. I also know that, by doing so, we lift each other up through our example. What’s most important, however, is seeing the negative side of our behavior and knowing we must do something positive to change it…And that, my friends, is WISDOM.

Let Go Of What No Longer Serves You

In life, we often hold on to things that aren’t helping us elevate to the next level. We hold on to relationships, friendships, jobs and even bad habits that no longer serve us.

Why do we do this? Because, for the most part, people fear the unknown. We tend to get scared at the idea of letting go of someone or something and the lack of that presences chips away at a part of who we are; that we will lose ourself and not know how to move forward. Although it’s a common misconception, it’s SO wrong.

The truth of the matter is, the space will be filled when you make a conscious decision to let go of that which does not serve you.

So, how do you know if someone is no longer serving you? Listen to yourself, your intuition. Life has a funny way of nudging you and telling you when you are being taxed emotionally, mentally and physically. It could be in the form of toxic relationships or friendships. Start evaluating your friendships and relationships. If you start feeling empty, drained or uninspired following your interactions with people, it’s time to reevaluate said dynamic and consider removing them from your life.

With that being said, you don’t have to completely cut someone off cold turkey. There’s levels to this ish. So going cold turkey might not always be the healthiest or diplomatic way of letting go, BUT slowly and surely, you can remove yourself from interactions and let the connection fade away. I believe in the Law of Attraction, and the more you practice this behavior of removing what no longer brings joy to your life, you start to attract the very people and things that do.

The same goes with a career or bad habit that isn’t elevating you to be the best you can be. If you don’t let go of the mundane and known, you will never truly experience life at it’s fullest. So many possibilities and opportunities start to reveal themself when you submerse yourself into your purpose and push back against the same and familiar. This is how we grow as individuals.

The less you hold, the more your hands are open to what’s here, unexpected, transformative. In every moment is the possibility for a new discovery, a radical undoing.

Jan Frazier

Detachment does not mean apathy, in fact quite the opposite. Detachment implies that we handover the process of life to a greater force that knows best on how to attend to our needs and wants. We stand in a place of firm understanding and knowledge that everything we truly want and need will be delivered to us once we surrender control and allow our egoic nature to stand idle.

So let go of the uninspiring and draining energy in your life. Push back against your fears and doubts. Like Will Smith says: “Life begins on the other side of fear.”

Let go of what no longer serves you, it will be worth it in the end.

Here’s a lovely song by Dara Maclean

Perfection is an Illusion

The pursuit of perfection accompanies many of us in all areas of life: We want to do a great job, have a flawless body, spend wonderful holidays on beaches that look and feel like paradise, and then post the perfect pictures of this perfect trip on Instagram. We are always pushing ourselves to the limit – both professionally and privately – and are far from satisfied with 100 percent. True to the motto: There’s still more! After all, you only live once, and to be successful one feels obligated to run one extra mile after another. Or not? Could it be that perfection is an illusion?

Well, of course, you should try your best. If you want to climb the career ladder, have a great body, or afford luxury vacations, it will require some form of sacrifice, whether mental or physical. Success at times can also mean that you have to be ready to push your own pain threshold. But it doesn’t mean that you have to be perfect in all situations all the time. Those who strive for perfection are in constant competition with themselves and others, which means they can only lose in the long term. And anyway: who or what is actually perfect?

Perfection is often related to an ideal that either arises in your head or is dictated by social norms. The media and social networks, in particular, keep suggesting to us what the perfect life or perfect body should look like. Even the top model on the magazine cover doesn’t have the same air-brushed perfection in real life. Lots of staging and subsequent optimization are used to ensure that this model looks absolutely perfect. 

This is precisely where the idea of perfection begins to become dangerous. Young, insecure, and unstable people, in particular, can be dazzled by supposedly perfect ideals. They begin to doubt themselves and emulate an idea they will never achieve. Because neither a person, nor life, nor anything else is ever perfect. Perfection is neither natural nor desirable. And the more we get used to the idea, the more relaxed we become. Because we understand that we don’t even need to chase an unrealistic state that we can never achieve anyway – perfection is an illusion in every sense of the word.

Instead of doubting ourselves, we should use our energy to be more Self-confident and shower ourself with love. Because setting your goals so high that they are unattainable is quite frustrating in the long run. You could also say: striving for perfection is the best guarantee for frustration and disappointment. If you treat yourself this way, you shouldn’t be surprised if your motivation eventually falls by the wayside. Because much more important than a top job, a toned body or a holiday on a dream beach are self-love, self-acceptance and the appreciation of your own performance and your own body. Don’t let the illusion of perfection get on your last nerve.

The world is full of people trying to be perfect. However, what this world needs much more is people who are unique. The world needs lateral thinkers, visionaries, and people with creative ideas and the courage to implement them. Be one of them! Do not try to be a perfect follower, but go your own way and learn that perfection does not exist. Life is colourful, wild, diverse, unpredictable, and unique – but never perfect. It has a lot to offer. But it will never be entirely perfect!

Anne-Marie, in this upbeat 2018 pop song knows what perfect is, and she’s totally okay with never achieving it. She owns her imperfections almost too well, listing them as the following:

  • poor eating habits
  • never wearing makeup
  • accepting her body
  • disliking fancy clothes and
  • not thinking before speaking.

Have You Any Room for Jesus?

Have you ever wondered, why was there no room for them in the inn? 

I can imagine Joseph thinking, “All right, enough is enough! First, my wife-to-be gets pregnant! Now we are living under a constant cloud of scandal and suspicion. The whole town is making fun of us, and why wouldn’t they? Who is going to believe our story? And then, Caesar Augustus decides to take a census! So, at the worst possible time, we have to travel 70 miles on a donkey to Bethlehem! And when we finally arrive, there are no hotel rooms! This is the worst day of my life!”

We can surely imagine that for Mary and Joseph this was hardly “the most wonderful time of the year.” 

Joseph and Mary would soon find out that God had mobilized a giant star to invite and direct wise men from the East to visit the newborn child. I can’t help to imagine Joseph wondering, “If God could mobilize a giant star, couldn’t he have made one hotel room available? Was this just a last minute overlooked detail by God or are we supposed to learn something from this?”

Max Lucado said it this way: “The mother and father of our Lord were pushed out and rejected. Even before he was born, our Lord was rejected and turned away. The words ‘no room for you’ followed him throughout his life … There was just no room for him anywhere. It is the same in the lives of many people today, he is still being crowded out. With all the festivities and all the busy-ness, he is an often just an afterthought. Instead of a place of honor at this time of the year, Christ is often shoved into a corner. Even today, there is no room for Jesus.”

The amazing and beautiful thing to me is this: This same child came to find room for us. Even though, time and time again, humanity told the Son of God we simply have no room for you, Jesus continues to tell humanity, “I have more than enough room for you.” 

Ironically, just as his earthly parents knocked on the innkeeper’s door, Jesus still knocks looking for a home in your heart. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

Here is a beautiful hymn I came across, lyrics below. Hope you enjoy it on this boxing day!

Have you any room for Jesus,
He who bore your load of sin?
As He knocks and asks admission,
Sinner, will you let Him in?

Refrain:
Room for Jesus, King of Glory!
Hasten now His Word obey;
Swing the heart’s door widely open,
Bid Him enter while you may.

Room for pleasure, room for business,
But for Christ the Crucified,
Not a place that He can enter,
In the heart for which He died?

Have you any room for Jesus,
As in grace He calls again?
Oh, today is time accepted,
T’morrow you may call in vain.

Room and time now give to Jesus,
Soon will pass God’s day of grace;
Soon thy heart left cold and silent,
And thy Savior’s pleading cease.

The True Meaning Of CHRISTmas

It’s that time of year again. The “most wonderful time of the year” is upon us. What makes this time so wonderful? Is it the gifts under the tree? The candy in our stockings? The decorations around the house and down every street? The abundance of food that fills our tables while surrounded by family and friends? Everyone always shouts out “Merry Christmas!”….but do they even know what this time is truly all about?

For some, Christmas may turn out to be a time of sorrow. Family members may not be able to afford the presents they believe their love ones deserve. A father may not be able to buy his son the new Xbox and may think he’s not good enough. Or a mother may not be able to afford the hottest trends and styles for her daughter that “all” of her friends have. As sad as this is, it is how a lot of people view this time of year. Christmas is about giving, of course, but it is not about giving material things.

Jesus Christ was born on this day to give us the greatest gift of all…forgiveness. We are all sinners, even though sometimes we don’t want to admit it. God sent his son on this day so he could die for all of our sins later on.

If that is not the best present you could possibly ask for, I’m not sure I know what is. Don’t get me wrong, gift giving is a wonderful concept and does show that you care about someone. People from all over brought Jesus gifts when he was born on this day. However, today’s society ambushes people to believe that this is the ENTIRE meaning of the holiday, hence the whole concept of “Black Friday” and holiday deals. People are so worried about material things. They always ask each other: “What did you get for Christmas?” and “What do you want me to get you this year?” People don’t realize that we all get the same thing for Christmas year after year, and every other day of the year for that matter.

Although it is not wrapped with a big shiny bow under the tree on Christmas morning, God’s love for us all is the best present that one could receive. So, do not worry if you can’t provide your love ones with the new iPhone or the newest gaming device this holiday season because no material item can surpass the gift of God’s love for us all.

Jesus is always the “reason for the season!” May this season, and every other, bring you joy and peace. Merry Christmas!

Here is my all time favorite Christmas story! Hope you love it as much as I do!

A friend of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a young, roguish-looking kid was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. “Is this your car, Mister?” the boy asked.

Paul nodded. “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was astounded. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you nothing? Boy, I wish…”

Paul knew what the boy was going to wish – for a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way to his heels.

“I wish that I could be a brother like that.”

Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he responded, “Would you like to go for a ride in my new car?”

“Oh yes, I’d love that!”

After a short ride, the boy turned with his eyes aglow and said, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?”

Paul smiled a little. Again, he thought he knew what the lad wanted…to show his neighbors that he was riding in a big, new automobile. But he was wrong again. “Will you stop at those two steps?” the boy asked.

The boy ran up the steps. In a little while, Paul heard him coming back, but moving quite slowly. The lad was carrying his younger, handicapped brother. The boy sat his brother down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up again him and pointed to the car.

“There she is, buddy, just like I told you! His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn’t cost him a cent. And someday I’m gonna give you one just like it…then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying to tell you about.”

Paul got out of the car and lifted the younger child to the front seat. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside the small child and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.