revdorothyl (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
revdorothyl) wrote2004-12-21 10:25 am
revdorothyl) wrote2004-12-21 10:25 am
Maybe a little sappy, but . . .
This was forwarded to me by an overstressed mother of young children, who's also a member of my Artist's Way group.
It may be a bit sappy for some, but I thought it was cute enough to pass along -- especially if for "family", you read "family and friends" or "family of choice", so as to be more inclusive of those of us who aren't mothers or don't have close blood kin with whom to spend the holidays:
First Corinthians 13, the Christmas Version:
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just a decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, sing carols in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but the gift of love will endure.
The very best of the season to us all!
It may be a bit sappy for some, but I thought it was cute enough to pass along -- especially if for "family", you read "family and friends" or "family of choice", so as to be more inclusive of those of us who aren't mothers or don't have close blood kin with whom to spend the holidays:
First Corinthians 13, the Christmas Version:
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just a decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, sing carols in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but the gift of love will endure.
The very best of the season to us all!
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And, as you, smartypants that you are, replied, "Luke 10:38-42."
Of course, most priests I know continue to assert that Martha was doing the right thing, in spite of Jesus' assurance that Mary had chosen the better part. It never ceases to amaze me how some people who profess Christianity will contradict Christ if what he says gets in the way of their philosophy and/or convenience.
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