From The Pastor’s Desk

From the Pastor’s Desk

R.A.C.K.-ing Up

We all have holiday memories, good or bad, funny or heartbreaking, despairing or inspiring. Among my many memories are shopping and running errands with my grandmother during Christmas. I may have grumbled about it then, yet now they are some of my most treasured moments.

While my momma and daddy made sure things at home were ready to welcome family and friends, my granny and I drove around town to buy presents, pick up groceries, and deliver packages; she never liked sitting still after my grandfather passed away. 

That may seem like a burden to some, yet she loved it! She had a way of taking the most ordinary task or everyday encounter and celebrating it as a God moment. It didn't matter where we were; she was searching for ways to share the love of God and expressions of the joy that was hers through Christ Jesus. I remember seeing her on several occasions giving generous tips to her hairdresser, secretly leaving flowers on graves in the cemetery, and surprising acquaintances with thoughtful gestures. My grandmother was always discreet in her acts of generosity and kindness, never putting a spotlight on herself. She found joy in giving, which I hope we can all experience this holiday season.

"This was her secret," she would say to me. Rather than receiving accolades, she simply wanted to put her Christian faith into action and bless others. She knew the true blessing of Christmas, the gift of God in human form, and she wanted to share it with others.

I invite you to join me in RACK-ing up this Advent and Christmas season. I'm not talking about getting tons of gifts. I'm talking about sharing Random Acts of Christmas Kindness (R.A.C.K.). R.A.C.K. is about performing small, unexpected acts of kindness to brighten someone's day. It could be as simple as holding the door for someone, paying for a stranger's coffee, leaving a kind note for a neighbor, or even baking cookies for your local fire station. Let's look for opportunities in life's everyday events to bless someone else with the love of Christ.

Let's make this Christmas a truly memorable one, not just for us but for everyone we touch. Let's flood our corner of the world with the joy that is ours in Jesus, whose act of kindness began in a stable in Bethlehem, continued on a cross at Calvary, escalated at an empty tomb, and is evident today. Remember that a simple act of kindness can transform a moment, a day, a life. Let's share the love of Jesus and witness the transformative power of kindness.

Let's R.A.C.K. up!

See you on Sunday,

Misty