A merry heart does good, like medicine… – Proverbs 17:22

The word “holiday” is a shortened version of the words holy day. A pastor/mentor of mine was known to remark that this time of year that could mean one of four things. It could be a holiday, a day off from work. It could be a hollow day, where the true meaning of the celebration was missed. Depending on your family and friends, it could rather quickly end up a holler day! Or, it could indeed be a holy day, a day set aside for a specific purpose with a focus on God and others. What makes the difference? Our focus. Is our focus God, others, or self?

Consider the focus and attitudes in these comics:

(click on comic to enlarge)







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“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

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