The Christmas Parade has come and gone. This year, like the previous two we put together a float in the name of our church. Each year they get better and better. This year we added a couple guys playing guitar and singing Christmas songs and people loved it!
My favorite part about the parade is what we have the privilege of doing. We get to hand out candy canes and colorful fliers about our church.
That might seem like a small thing to do, but it’s actually huge! This time of year exudes joy. It’s in the songs we listen to, in the stores we visit, and of course on the faces of little ones everywhere. But let’s face it, not everyone feels joy right now. Many people are just plain hurting. This year I’m feeling it. I’m feeling sad. I miss my dad. Christmas was a big, fun experience with him. We cut our tree down together, hung lights, and the list goes on. This is our first year without him. And it’s tough. I’ve had many days recently where I’m a basket of emotions. With that being said, I get it! Christmas is hard when you’re feeling sad.
So, back to the parade. I was thinking. God speaks to our hearts in His time. It might seem like an odd moment when suddenly our eyes are opened to God’s path, but His timing is never odd. As we walked in the parade, we came in contact with about 1500 people. 1500 people who experience many different emotions this time of year. 1500 people who God could be speaking to at this very moment. 1500 people who were given information about a place where they can come and get to know God better, where they can fellowship with other people who are broken and who love the Lord, where they can come as they are and experience a loving, accepting place to worship our Savior.
I feel honored and humbled to have been a part of this invitation and to have shared this with my family. Sharing the love of God and knowing Him personally and deeply should be woven into the fabric of our lives. I encourage you to invite people to your church! Helping people find God and really know Him should be our priority. It should be what we are teaching our kiddos through our words and actions. Knowing God should be what is most important to us and in our family life, above all else! Yes, even above academics, sports, and other extracurricular activities. It should be written on our hearts. It should be what we talk about from the moment we wake up until the moment we go to sleep. It is absolutely the most important thing in the world. Let’s lead. Let’s guide. Let’s fellowship with others who share our beliefs. Let’s invite others to know our God personally.
