Goats and Yellow Ledger Pads
Too often, I take things for granted. I think most of us would agree that we are guilty at times of that. The thing that concerns me is whether I do anything about it or not. Sure, I might pay lip service to it and express my thanksgiving. I might even take it a step further and have a thought of actually doing something about it. Too often it ends there.
Thanksgiving Day is a great example of these instances. It is a time when we express thanks for all the things we take for granted. It may play out something like this. All the family comes together for a Thanksgiving feast. We pray and say thanks for our abundant blessings. Then I sit down and can’t find the deviled eggs on my plate because they are on level one which is buried under level two vegetables and the top level of congealed salad. I may be very thankful for this food, and often take it for granted, but then what?
All this came to mind recently when I received my Winter edition of World Vision magazine. It included the 2009 Gift Catalog, with the headline reading, “Give a goat and save a child’s life with milk, cheese, and much more.”
Now there is a perspective check for you and me. It made me wonder if I do anything about all the things I take for granted? I can’t find my deviled eggs because there is so much food on my plate. And at the same time, millions of children across the world are singing, “All I want for Christmas is a goat.” In the words of the Monday night football segment….”Come on man!”
I want this to change. I am going to give some child a goat for Christmas this year. I don’t want to take things for granted anymore, but more importantly, I want to do something about it.
Are you tracking with me? If so, here is a Christmas gift idea for us that can be used for all of next year. I think we should all give each other a yellow ledger pad for Christmas. We could make a list of all the things we take for granted. I know I can come up with at least 52. Then for the 52 weeks of 2010, I can be reminded of something or someone I take for granted. Every week, I will be reminded not to take this thing or person for granted but instead to be thankful enough to do something about it. One week may be to do something in response to hunger (like giving a goat). One week may be a family member that has been taken for granted. So I will do something special with them. The next week may focus on health. So I will thank God when I enjoy a bike ride. One week might be about not taking our religious freedoms for granted. So I will invite an un-churched person to church with me.
That will make for one exciting year. It will be a year in which there are far fewer things and people that are taken for granted. And it will be
a year that turns lip service into action.
Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Emmanuel, God with us. Download your own “Take for Granted 2010” calendar.
Scot,
Right on dude. Thanks for the challenging reminder.
You are a continual blessing to me.
Love you man,
The freezer is full of deer meet.
Seth is frothing at the mouth to get back out in the field.
Blessings,
Bill