Today’s discussion centers around a relevant Christmas version of I Corinthians 13 which is often referred to as the “Love Chapter” in the Bible. After reading this thought-provoking piece, will you create your own line that you would add to this to personalize it?
I Corinthians 13: Christmas Style
by Sharon Jaynes
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows
If I work at the soup kitchen
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes
I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child
Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind
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 giving the gift of love will endure.
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For me, I’d add:
If I write the Christmas letter, print it out, stuff, address, and stamp the envelopes, but bark orders at my family in doing so, I’m just a clanging gong.
What about you? What would you add to personalize this for you?
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I’m eager to hear your personalization of I Corinthians 13 Christmas style!
If I sing every Christmas hymn loudly, but ignore the pleas from the child next to me for a hug and to be wrapped in her blanket, I show no love.
laura.vandercook at gmail.com
If I buy my children mountains of presents, but do so to keep up with other parents, my expression of love is lost to my children.
I subscribe to your blog.
If I stand in holiday lines to get the "perfect gift" but do so without remembering God's gift to us, I profit nothing.
cdavenport at charter.net
I subscribe to your blog.
If I fill our calendar with fun, holiday things to do but ignore my children while there, I am not sharing Christ's love with them.
If I bake cookies for the Christmas parties but yell at the kids when they want to help baking, I am just a busy baker.
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If I fill our calendar with meaningful activities, decorate the house just right and get the Christmas letter out early but am to exhausted to enjoy my precious family and focus on Jesus then I am just lost.
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I also just subscribed to your blog.
If I make sure the nativity set is out, the star is on top the tree, and my home is decorated with Jesus' birth, but I don't reflect Christ by the way I live I am nothing and I gain nothing.
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if I'm impatient and complain to to the store clerk instead of showning kindness than I'm not remembering the meaning of the season…..
If I find myself frustrated because my 3 year old is lagging behind as she takes in the sights and sounds of the season, then I have forgotten the joy of being a child at Christmas and the magic that it holds.
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If I sing Christmas carols all over the house but do not have joy in my heart what kind of message do to I send to my family? My light is not shining for Christ.
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If I am too busy getting the decorations just right but do not spend time enjoying my kids am I showing Christ's love to them?
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For me it's also the Christmas cookies–not letting my 3 and 5 year olds help because they can't do it "right" — not something I want to be remembered for!
If I change diapers, make baby food, create peaceful naptimes, bath my daugter, play with her and keep her from harm but do not show love to my daughter, I am just another nanny.
Tawnda
I subscribe to your blog.
Tawnda
If I spend hours searching tirelessly for the perfect gift and wrap it so that it's just so, but fail to spend quality time with the recipient, I'm just another shopper.
You said it best for me about yelling at the kids to get out of the way. I am always tripping over someone or something.
Also, love for me is letting the kids help with the cookie making. It takes twice as long with them, but the memories are forever!!
parresia03 (at) gmail (dot) com
If I go through our families Christmas traditions like a to-do-list, buy all the presents for all the gift exchanges, but neglect to share the gift of Jesus, & teach the story of Christ's birth to my little ones without being amazed…
thenI have missed the true meaning & joy of this wonderful season.
Forgot to add my e-mail…
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If I direct the children's Christmas musical at church, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
jessicafeuser at hotmail dot com
WOW! These are all awesome! I don't have much to add. But I think I'm going to copy the poem to my blog. 🙂 This has been my most FAVORITE discussion so far. THANKS! 🙂
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