This “Holy-Heart-Day” season

Scripture:

“The LORD bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers. ” Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’ ” Ruth 2:20, 21 (NIV)


Application:


Even with the commercialization of Christmas and Thanksgiving (which has practically morphed into "the Black Friday warmup day"), holidays make us think of others. They require us to be in contact with extended family. If not for holidays, might more family relationships harden? I don't know. Absence doesn’t always make the heart grow fonder. Absence can harden a heart.


We can use the holidays as our “Holy-Heart Day” building season.


Reinterpret commercialized holidays as calendar opportunities to care for others. Like to exercising the body, after months of skipping the gym, it may be hard at first. But if we make an attempt at visiting, sitting down for meals together, and—if your family does so—exchanging gifts, we exercise that heart muscle.  And go beyond the family. Homeless shelters, food drives, and charitable work is good heart exercise.


The more we can expand our circle of people we bless, the healthier our hearts will be.


Prayer:


Jesus, You taught us to build our hearts through caring for others. Help me show compassion this holiday season and every day of my life.