A Christmas Story

Dear Friends,
Another of my observations on life from the birds around us:
I asked a group of children to look at the picture of this bird.

"Do you see anything special?” I asked.
"Dark and ugly" was the reply of one observant child.
Sometimes that is true of people and sometimes we feel like that about ourselves - "dark and ugly".
We are not all beautiful, cultured, well-rounded personalities. Sometimes we feel unlovely and unwanted. Even the most beautiful people can feel "dark and ugly" inside and that "no-one loves them"!
This little bird is a bit like that - dull, dreary, an unwanted pest, not valued by anyone.
The Christmas season brings out this sense of valuation. It's possible to value people by the size of cards or gifts or by the size of the Christmas dinner we provide.
Jesus understood all about values and said that we are of more value than a "no-name bird". He knows the number of hairs on our heads. He understands that we feel "dark and ugly" sometimes. Jesus gave us the most valuable gift of all - Himself, and we celebrate this at Christmas. Why did He do this? So we can live in relationship with Him. Then we never need to feel like a lonely, unwanted, worthless bird. When thinking of gifts this Christmas, try telling someone they are loved.
Encourage others to look out for those who are "lonely and feel unloved".
This is the way that Jesus cares for us.