the season of unreasonable requests

it isn't reasonable, but...
In light of the hustle and bustle that can easily consume the week ahead, I challenge you to take a few minutes right now and do the unheard of. Stop. Stop moving and planning and executing your (or someone else's) plans.

stop
be still
be quiet
rest a minute

look
inside of yourself
at those around you
think about those you know you will be seeing

listen
to your heart
to the hearts of those you love
to the heart of God

ask
what is most wanted
what is most needed
what can I do so I am ready to give, freely and lavishly

realize 
it isn't buying another tie or package of socks or new pj's
(but that may be part of it)
it isn't filling a stocking full of gifts or plates of delectable sweets
(but that may be one way of sharing)
it isn't even the first thing on most Christmas gift lists

love, 
true love is what we want
true love is what we need
love is the most costly gift you can give
and love is the richest gift you will ever receive

*warning-
Receiving and giving love will change lives. Yours certainly, but also each life yours touches, even slightly. You can't give this gift on your own, but you have the ability to give it freely and lavishly when you rely on the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through you.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. " 1 John 4:7-21