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Today’s scripture: James 3:7-12 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Squire):
A couple of disparate thoughts have collided in my head this Christmas season, and I’m hopeful about where they’ll take me.
Thought 1:
I’ve noticed a curious merchandising phenomenon as Christmas approaches. Every store I’ve been in — from WalMart to Nordstrom, and even Staples (!) — has had bins, racks, and piles of “gift ideas” on display. Heaped on tables in a main aisle, you’ll find everything from gloves and slippers and wallets to crystal knickknacks, herbed oil sets and Jelly Belly samplers, digital picture frames and Milk Bones in a tin and boxes of socks and 200 piece tool sets and 5,000 kinds of gift cards and, God help us, “Slap Chops” and Snuggies. And more, ad infinitum.
And it all seems kind of sad and pointless. We’ll spend money we don’t have, to give someone we care for something they don’t need and likely don’t want.
Thought 2:
Pastor Jeff’s sermon on Sunday (here’s the link, it’s worth a listen) was about the “prophecies” we listen to that shape who we are. These can be words from parents, teachers, friends, and society we internalize that often limit who we allow ourselves to be. Jeff’s point was that we should examine what we’ve been told, and discard the prophecies that don’t build us up.
But I found myself wondering what negative prophecies I’ve been responsible for. As a child, sibling, partner, friend, church team member, or co-worker, we’re all in positions of influence, even though we probably don’t think of ourselves that way very often. I can think of specific times where my words have probably wounded the people I care for, even when they haven’t let on. (I won’t go into detail, but you can think of your own foolish words, I’m sure.)
Words can never be unspoken, but I wonder — can the wound they’ve caused be healed? Maybe a word spoken in love can be a salve to the word spoken in anger, or even to the words that were “just teasing” but cut deeper than we knew.
I’m sorry.
I take it back. I didn’t mean it.
You were right.
I was wrong.
Will you forgive me?
In my experience, these words of love, sincerely spoken, can warm the heart more than a Target full of Snuggies. And just maybe, they can be a Christmas gift that is what they really needed.
Thought for the day: What are the words I should try to take back?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.