Christmas Countdown #2: Making this Christmas the Best Ever

As we get emersed with the hustle and bustle of the season we may have chance encounters with people. It’s happened to all of us. We run into someone and as we walk away we feel awful about ourselves.

What just happened?

Chances are you ran into someone who is a sucker and not a giver. Some people breathe life into us and others suck the life out of us. After your chance encounter, you can’t put your finger on it, but you just don’t feel good or uplifted or encouraged. Perhaps they used you to feel better about themselves by cutting you down ever so subtly. Or maybe they dragged you into their drama emotionally or talked about someone else in an unkind way.

If you walk away from someone, and you’re feeling bad about yourself after, it most likely says more about them than it does about you. In other words, their bad mojo rubbed off on you.

But on the other hand, have you ever run into someone and after talking to them you feel good about yourself? Something about talking to them lifted your spirits and encouraged you. You feel good as you walk away. These are people who encourage and uplift and breathe life into us.

Have you ever thought about how others feel after talking to you? Do we uplift or drag down? As someone walks away from us, how do we want them to feel? If we are intentional with our words and make sure to only use words that encourage and lift up we breathe life into others.

If we are intentional with how we respond and show care and give grace we breathe life into others. 

“Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

– Ephesians 4:29-32

During this busy time of year think about the people who breathe life into you. Those people you really enjoy spending time with but never seem to have the time to connect with. Maybe an aunt or a friend or a grandparent. Make a point to reach out and set a date and time to get together, because, as my aunt says, Some day is not a day on the calendar. Connection happens when we make it happen.

Give yourself the gift of spending time with someone you love and give another the gift of spending time with you.

And most of all be a person who is a life giver and not a life sucker.

Christmas is a time for joy and laughter and cheer. We can make that happen through connection, real connection with “life givers.”

Thanks for visiting LuSays. Need a gift for the season? Check out books by Lucille Williams: Know someone who’s getting married? From Me to We would make the perfect gift. Want to give someone some fun laughs and a boost in their intimacy department? The Intimacy You Crave is a fun gift. Know a mom who could use some encouragement? Order a copy of The Impossible Kid.  And a perfect gift for the little ones Turtle Finds His Talent for ages 2-6.