Remember Him

As Christmas is here and a New Year approaches, we reflect on all our blessings—our health, our families and we are grateful for all those still here to love. We are appreciative of our friends for without them life would not be as fun or as interesting. We are thankful for our jobs, a roof over our heads and that we can pay our bills. Most of us got through another year unscathed and we are hopeful for the future.

We in America, in spite of our incomes that have stagnated or have lost value due to our country in recession, are still the most generous people on the planet. We still put money in the Salvation Army bucket at X’mas. This is the time of year that every charity imaginable solicits donations and we give to many knowing that it might stress the budget but that someone out there might need it more.

According to an article I read, low-income working families are the most generous group in the country and give away an average of 4.5 percent of their income. The middle class gives about 2.5 percent and the wealthy around 3 percent.

There are some who feel guilty for even having the basic necessities. They question themselves for simply enjoying that Christmas turkey dinner with all the dressings and believe that they should suffer right along with the rest who have less. They impose their own personal guilt trip. The only one who carried the world on his shoulders was Jesus Christ. He would not want us to join him on the cross.

We should rejoice in knowing that for a country that has a growing debt of over $12 trillion dollars and with 15.4 million unemployed in November, we still are the most generous people of all, who can still reach into our pockets for someone less fortunate.

Merry Christmas; relax and enjoy the turkey and while doing so, remember Him and the miracle of his birth--the one who suffered so that we could live and who, without a doubt, has influenced the world like no other.