1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to Hope for the Journey, the podcast for women 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 1: over forty who are ready to rise, rebuild, and reclaim 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: their story. I'm your host, Monica, and each week you'll 4 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: hear real, raw comeback stories from women who have walked 5 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: through the fire and found purpose on the other side. 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: If you're navigating change, chasing a dream, or simply searching 7 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: for your next step, you're not alone. This is your 8 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: place for courage, community, and the reminder that it's never 9 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: too late to rewrite the ending. Today on Hope for 10 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 1: the Journey, we're talking about the gifts that cost nothing 11 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: but mean everything. 12 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 2: I'll be back with that in. 13 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 1: Just a moment, right after a word from our sponsors. Hi, 14 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: I'm Monica, and I'm so glad that you are here 15 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: with me today on the Hope of the Journey podcast, 16 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: the podcast for women over forty who understand the value 17 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: of community, who understand that this is a sacred space 18 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 1: where we can cheer one another on and celebrate and 19 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: talking about celebrations. Here we are right in the Christmas 20 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: holiday season and gift giving. 21 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 2: Is all around us. 22 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: So today we'll talk about the gifts that cost nothing 23 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: but mean everything. And then of course we will end 24 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 1: on unwrapping the greatest gift of all, and that of 25 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: course is Jesus. So one of the gifts that we 26 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: can give freely at Christmas time that means everything and 27 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: cost nothing is the gift of kindness. And the gift 28 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: of kindness comes right from the Bible. I mean Ephesians 29 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: four point thirty two says be kind and compassionate one 30 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 1: to another. 31 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 2: Kindness is so. 32 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: Important, and this Christmas season it may look as simple 33 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: as this. Maybe you see somebody going through the grocery 34 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: store or coming through the door, lots of bags and 35 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: they're having a tough time. Perhaps is it's as simple 36 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: as can I help you with that? Or maybe it's 37 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,359 Speaker 1: going through the drive through at Starbucks and taking care 38 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: of the bill of the car behind you. Just simple kindness, 39 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: the ways to spread the joy of the holiday season 40 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: that can mean so much to people. It can make 41 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: such a difference when somebody sees a person willing to 42 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,799 Speaker 1: help them with their shopping bags, or just that surprise, Hey, 43 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: I paid for your coffee this morning at Starbucks. You 44 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: know another gift that is so vitally important, and it 45 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: is all over the Bible. And I truly believe that 46 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: not utilizing this gift, not walking in it, can cause 47 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:48,959 Speaker 1: us to walk in resentment, can cause bitterness, It definitely 48 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: causes angst in relationships and even challenges in our own 49 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: day and in our own daily life and in relationships. 50 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: And this gift is the gift of forgiveness. 51 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: Now, the Bible teaches us in Kalassians three thirteen that 52 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: we should forgive as we've been forgiven. So, if you 53 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: know anything about the Christian faith, we understand that Jesus 54 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: took all of our sins upon the cross. He offered 55 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: us the gift of forgiveness so that we can be redeemed, 56 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: so that we can be in close relationship with him, 57 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: and that our sins, our mistakes, our trustpass is that 58 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: those things are covered by His blood and that we 59 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:36,119 Speaker 1: walk free. I think we all probably know that when 60 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,839 Speaker 1: we have unforgiveness in our hearts, or when someone has 61 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: held unforgiveness toward us, we feel that heaviness, that weight, 62 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: that anger, that angst, that resentment. 63 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: But one of the best gifts we. 64 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: Can give those people in our lives, even people that 65 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: we work with, people around us, and it's a great 66 00:03:55,480 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: gift for ourself too, is to forgive freely, let go 67 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: of what no longer helps or serves us. When we 68 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: forgive freely, we walk in comfort, We walk in peace, 69 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: we walk in close. 70 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 2: Relationship to God. 71 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 1: Why Because forgiveness is obedience and it is a gift. 72 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: It costs nothing in terms of monetary value. But it 73 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: can cost us pride. We might have to swallow a 74 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,720 Speaker 1: little pride. We might have to maybe not even think 75 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: that we're wrong, but just choose to let a situation go. 76 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: I can think not too far in the distant past 77 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 1: and really close friend of mine, I took her into 78 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: confidence on something that was just hurtful, very tender to me, 79 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: and I shared that tender that hurt with her with 80 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: the understanding that it would. 81 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 2: Go no farther. Well. 82 00:04:55,960 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: Regrettably, she wasn't able to keep her promise. He broke 83 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: the confidence. And of course you know, he said, she said, 84 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: you tell one person, they tell too. Before I knew it, 85 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: that confidence was out. 86 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: And while it may. 87 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: Not have been all over the headlines and social media, 88 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 1: within the circle of friends in our community, people knew 89 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 1: that secret was out. 90 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:25,239 Speaker 2: Was I hurt? Yes? Was I angry? Of course? Did? 91 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 2: Was I? Was I right? To be angry, absolutely justified. 92 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: Nonetheless, when I chose to forgive out of obedience to 93 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 1: the Lord, out of just gratitude for all He's forgiven me, 94 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 1: for sure, I still felt hurt. But what I did 95 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: not feel was the weight of unforgiveness. What I did 96 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: not feel was that grudge, that resentment. All of that. 97 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: Those things lightened and brightened, brightened, brightened my heart. So today, 98 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: look at your life as we're in this holiday season. 99 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 1: It is a time of self reflection, of looking at 100 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: the gifts that God has so freely given us, and 101 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: ask yourself, is there somebody that I need to forgive? 102 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean it may not even be somebody 103 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: that you can go to and say I forgive you. 104 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: They may be long out of your life. But to stop, 105 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: to choose to forgive, to acknowledge that what happened to 106 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 1: you was wrong, but also to acknowledge that you want 107 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 1: to forgive, that, with God's help, you want to walk 108 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: away and pass from that, and in doing so that 109 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 1: you give yourself the gift of freedom, another gift that 110 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: can be in rare commodity in life in general, because anxiety, 111 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: right it's all around us everywhere. We go, work, school, home, 112 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: all of the things. But this gift during the holidays 113 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: can be especially hard. Holidays can be overwhelming for people 114 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: I know. In my family, this is the first Christmas 115 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: without my brother. My brother passed away in March of 116 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: this year at fifty two. He had down syndrome. And 117 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 1: you know, at fifty two he went to heaven. And 118 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: while I've rejoiced that he's in heaven with his eternal 119 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: reward in Christ, there is also grief, right, there's loss. 120 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: It's the first Christmas without him in fifty two years, 121 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: So there is that grief, and I acknowledge that. But 122 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: because of Jesus, we also have the gift of peace 123 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: that can walk us through these tough times. The Bible 124 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: says in John fourteen twenty seven peace I leave with you, 125 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: My peace I give you. And peace is not found 126 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: in all of our circumstances being perfect. I mean, if 127 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: that was the case, we would never have peace. And 128 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: it's the peace that passes under standing. If this is 129 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: if you're like me and this is your first holiday 130 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: without someone that you've been close to, or perhaps your 131 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: adult children can't travel home, maybe that kids are into 132 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:17,239 Speaker 1: different houses, that there's joint custody, things that you would 133 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: prefer not to have to go through troubling circumstances. 134 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: But in the midst of all of that, there is 135 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 2: the gift of peace. 136 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: And we can give that gift of peace to others 137 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: when they bring us their chaos or drama, we give 138 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,319 Speaker 1: them our peace. We don't become all involved in that. 139 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: We remember that God shares with us his peace, He 140 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: shares with us his comfort. And even in this Christmas 141 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: season and the unwrapping of all the gifts and all 142 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 1: the food and the goodies and the parties and the 143 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: church activities, that can all really take our hearts and 144 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: minds away from what truly matters. Peace is a way 145 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: to be still and know that He's God. It might 146 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: mean that for you it's taken a deep breath, just 147 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: a deep breath, a pause. It might be sitting in 148 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: silence for ten minutes. It might be opening the Bible, 149 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: having the Bible up on your phone and just immersing 150 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: yourself in a few verses instead of the chaos that 151 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: is all around, and remind yourself and by your example 152 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: those in your life, that. 153 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 2: We have the gift of peace. 154 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: It costs Jesus everything but it is ours freely as 155 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: we believe in Christ. Another gift that is just all 156 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: around us. It brings us community, It brings us joy. 157 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: It can also bring pain when things go wrong. Sometimes. 158 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: This is the gift of friendship, you know, Proverbs seventeen seventeen, 159 00:09:56,320 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: one of my favorite scriptures. And as guided my friendships 160 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: and made them better. It's a friend loves at all times. 161 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: And the last part of that verse says, and a 162 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: brother is born for adversity. In other words, God gives 163 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: us the gift of friendship. He calls us his friends 164 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,559 Speaker 1: when we believe in Christ, but that we have this 165 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: wonderful gift of friendship to have community people that we're 166 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: therefore through thick and through thin, through the hard times 167 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: and through the great times, and even in the stretched, 168 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 1: also stretched holiday season. The gift of friendship can mean 169 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: everything right now, even this moment. Maybe you're wrapping gifts, 170 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: Maybe you're at work trying to wrap it up so 171 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 1: that you can enjoy some time off work for Christmas, 172 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,079 Speaker 1: or even just time with your family if you can't 173 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: take time off work, and in that gift of friendship, 174 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:02,239 Speaker 1: as you remember that, maybe it's a simple and actionable 175 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: as texting a friend to say, hey, love you, so 176 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: appreciate your friendship and pointing out something very specific that 177 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: you really appreciate about them. I, for example, I have 178 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 1: a friend named Debbie, and my friend Debbie is someone 179 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: that with her there are no setters like she is 180 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: just open and honest in her friendship to me allows 181 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: me a space where I can just be myself also, 182 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,359 Speaker 1: so this morning I sent her a text, Hey, Debbie, 183 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 1: I love you. Your friendship is a treasure to me, and 184 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 1: I appreciate how you let me be myself without judgment 185 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: in the good times and in the bad times. Just 186 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 1: celebrating that gift of friendship in a season that's so busy, 187 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 1: that can be so materialistic, that can be so expensive, 188 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 1: and where there's just food all around, taking the time 189 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: to remember the friends that you have in your life, 190 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: those that are treasured friends, those you can laugh with, 191 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: cry with, those that are there for you at two 192 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: o'clock in the morning when things come up. And you know, 193 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: I've been a two AM friend for people, and I've 194 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: had friends that have been two AM friends to me, 195 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: and those are just the best. So the gift of 196 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 1: friendship is one of those gifts that it doesn't cost 197 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: anything monetarily, but my goodness, it does mean everything in 198 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:35,679 Speaker 1: our lives. Another gift is the gift of a smile, 199 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: And you know, smile, A smile really is a universal language. 200 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: This past summer, my family and I we went to 201 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: Rio de Janeiro. My son's wife, my beautiful daughter in love, 202 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: was born in Brazil. She has family there, so we 203 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: had a family vacation. And here's the thing. Everybody was 204 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: speaking in Portuguese, and I do not speak Portuguese, nor 205 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: do I understand it. But the one thing that I 206 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: could do, even without the benefit of Google Translate, is 207 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: the gift of a smile. When I smiled at people, 208 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:14,679 Speaker 1: they understood what that meant. 209 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 2: It was. 210 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: It was a warm smile that basically said the words 211 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: that I couldn't speak in Portuguese. Hi, how are you? 212 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 1: I see you, I acknowledge you. You're there. And so 213 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: you may be in your car right now, getting ready 214 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: to go to the mall or going to the post 215 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: office to pick up packages and presents. Well, maybe you 216 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: are in your car and you are going to the 217 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 1: store for what you hope is the last time for 218 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: some tape to wrap the gifts or some more gift 219 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: rep or gift bags or a last minute gift for 220 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: Aunt Matilda that you forgot about. And the people that 221 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 1: work in stores many times in retail or restaurants during 222 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: this season, man, they're tired. It's a busy season, and 223 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: that gift of a small can mean everything. It can 224 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: literally change the course of a person's day. Proverbs fifteen 225 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: thirty says it like this, a chef cheerful look brings 226 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: joy to the heart. Sometimes the best gift that you 227 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,559 Speaker 1: can give is your smile. 228 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 2: You can't put it on your debit. 229 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: Card or a credit card, but boy does it mean everything. 230 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: I've got to take just a quick break for a 231 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: word from our sponsors, and I will be right back 232 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: with the gifts that cost nothing but mean everything, and 233 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: also unwrapping the greatest gift of all this holiday season. 234 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: I'll be right back. I'm so glad that you're with 235 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 1: me here today on hope for the journey. As we 236 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 1: take a look at this busy holiday season, the season 237 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: that it's such a short season, yet so much happens 238 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: within this season. People say it's the most one wonderful 239 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: time of the year, and it is. People also say 240 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: it's the most busy time of year, and it is. 241 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: It can also be the most expensive time of the year. 242 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: I mean some people, and I've been there. I have 243 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: been there many years in the past, paying for Christmas 244 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: the whole year after it happens. So sometimes our priorities 245 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: and our money and our budgets really just don't line 246 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: up with where they need to be. And I've learned 247 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: the hard way, after many lessons of paying off debt 248 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: not to do that. If I don't have the cash, 249 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: then I just don't do it. And you know, debt 250 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: free is a gift that we can give ourselves as well. 251 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: So we're talking about these gifts that we can't put 252 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: on a debit card or a credit card. They don't 253 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: cost anything monetarily, but they mean so much. And one 254 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: of the gifts that we get, and it is directly 255 00:15:55,600 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: from God, is the gift of love. First Corinthians in 256 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 1: sixteen fourteen says, let all that you do be done 257 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: in love. Love really changes everything. It changes how we give, it, 258 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: changes how we serve it, changes how we live, it 259 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: changes how we talk. Love really is the heartbeat of 260 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: Christmas because God is love and God so loved the world, 261 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: that he gave his only son, Jesus, that we could 262 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: be saved, that we could be redeemed. The whole idea 263 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,359 Speaker 1: of the Christmas season that we celebrate is to celebrate 264 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: the birth and the life of Christ, and that entire 265 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: story is wrapped in the love of God through the 266 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: life of Jesus, the gift that cost us nothing when 267 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: we receive it, but it cost Jesus everything. 268 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 2: It cost him his life. He gave up everything for us. 269 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: So today, if you're feeling especially stressed at this holiday season, 270 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:09,400 Speaker 1: or perhaps you're lonely this holiday season, you know this 271 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 1: is the podcast for women over forty. It may be 272 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 1: your first holiday alone for many years. Maybe you are 273 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: married for twenty years and then he left for somebody else, 274 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: and your heart is shattered and you're lonely, and you 275 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: don't know what life will look like even today, let 276 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: alone thinking about tomorrow in the next five years. But 277 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 1: that gift of love from God is available to all 278 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,679 Speaker 1: of us, and for all of you who are listening 279 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: right now. If you have a friend and this is 280 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: her first Christmas alone without her spouse, whether that's divorce, 281 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: whether that's by death, whether it's being separated by geographic location. 282 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: Reach out to that friend even today. Can be by text, 283 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 1: instant message, a social media message, email, however, doesn't matter. 284 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:12,199 Speaker 1: But reach out and let that woman know, let that 285 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: friend know that you love them and that they mean 286 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: so much to you. Holiday loneliness, isolation, being separated from people, 287 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 1: causes anxiety to be high and the rates of depression 288 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: to be high during this season. So what I wanted 289 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: us to do on this Hope for the Journey podcast 290 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 1: today is to say, Hey, we are all women over forty. 291 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 1: We've lived a few seasons of life. We understand the ebb, 292 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 1: the flow, the ups, the downs, the rough spots, the 293 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 1: places that we get that we say, God, I just 294 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: need you to rewrite my story. I've come this far, 295 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: but I can't go any farther like I need a change. 296 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 1: And I'll say this love. Love is the most powerful 297 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 1: thing in this world, because God is love and He 298 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: is all powerful. And when we choose to love those 299 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 1: around us, when we love our neighbor as ourselves, we 300 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: are obeying God in every single way. And when we 301 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: reach out to the least of these, when we reach 302 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 1: out to our friends who may be lonely today or 303 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 1: feeling isolated, perhaps even sickness, like the person is too 304 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 1: ill to come to the family gathering or whatever that 305 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: might be. 306 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 2: We can reach out in love. If it's sickness, right, 307 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:37,879 Speaker 2: we can do a porch drop. 308 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 1: We can take them a plate of Christmas dinner or dessert, 309 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 1: just whatever might help cheer them up a little bit. 310 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 1: But love, again, can't put that on your credit card. 311 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: Doesn't come on a debit card. You cannot do easy 312 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: pay and make four installments on this. It's something that 313 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: comes from the heart. And love is burn from God 314 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: because God is love. So look around, think about your life, 315 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: the people in your life. Is there's somebody that you 316 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: can just send a text to it says, hey, thinking 317 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 1: of you, love you. 318 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:13,360 Speaker 2: I set a prayer for you. 319 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 1: That is so meaningful during this very very busy holiday season, 320 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: you know, another gift that we have is the gift 321 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: a family. And for those who during this holiday season 322 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:31,919 Speaker 1: can't be with family again, that can be a lonely place, 323 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 1: and for some people it might even be a relief. 324 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: Maybe family gatherings aren't what you wish they were or 325 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 1: what they used to be, because life, you know, it 326 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:48,199 Speaker 1: changes changes from year to year, Whether it's that we 327 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:53,639 Speaker 1: move a new job, somebody gets married, someone goes to heaven, 328 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: somebody passes away, somebody gets married, they get divorced. All 329 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 1: of these changes how our families look. You know, family 330 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 1: is meant as a gift from God for us as 331 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: a place to belong, a safe place, a place to 332 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: grow up, a place to be nurtured, a place that 333 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: would foster our hopes and our dreams and help build 334 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:20,919 Speaker 1: our faith. And if you've got that today, that is 335 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:25,880 Speaker 1: such a blessing. If your parents are still on this 336 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: planet earth, to be able to reach out out to 337 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 1: them and let them know how much you appreciate them. 338 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: You know, no parent is perfect. I'm so blessed to 339 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: have both of my parents. 340 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 2: My mom is. 341 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 1: Eighty seven, my dad is eighty six. And you know, 342 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:45,399 Speaker 1: as I shared earlier, they lost their only son, my brother, 343 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:49,200 Speaker 1: at fifty two years old, and this is their first 344 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 1: season also without him. But what we will have is 345 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: the gift of family, and we will honor my brother's 346 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:01,360 Speaker 1: memory and just love on one another and remind each 347 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: other that my brother just he made it to the 348 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 1: finish line first, he'd beat us. But someday we're all 349 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 1: going to be there. If you're blessed to have family around, 350 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,400 Speaker 1: or you can spend this holiday with family, or your 351 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 1: parents are still here, really celebrate that. You know, none 352 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:23,120 Speaker 1: of us are promised tomorrow. And again, family is one 353 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: of those things you can't buy. 354 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 2: A family. 355 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: Family is God given and it's also formed by our 356 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 1: own relationships, our own willingness to stay in relationships and 357 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 1: the other people. I mean, relationships are not one sided. 358 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:42,399 Speaker 1: Sometimes there are rough relationships and families that have nothing 359 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: to do with us. It's other people processing their hurts 360 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 1: and their problems and they maybe cut you off or 361 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: don't treat you right, and that's not on you. And 362 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 1: in those cases, finding a safe community to people to 363 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: be friends with, people to celebrate with, can make those 364 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 1: really lonely times better. The gift of family, the gift 365 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: of friends, these gifts that cost nothing but mean everything. 366 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:14,360 Speaker 1: And finally, today I want us to look at unwrapping 367 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: the greatest gift of all this holiday season, and that 368 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 1: is the gift of God's only Son, Jesus Christ. In 369 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: every home, apartment, trailer, hospital, car, wherever people are. My 370 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: prayer is that during this holiday season that while seeing 371 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: family is amazing, Christmas shopping for me, it's a lot 372 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: of fun. I like to get gifts for people. Some people, 373 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: you know, it's a hassle to go shopping, but most 374 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 1: of us like to give gifts to the people that 375 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:49,880 Speaker 1: we love. 376 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,920 Speaker 2: In the midst of all of. 377 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:58,120 Speaker 1: That, the Christmas plays, the Christmas musicals, the Christmas movies, 378 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 1: the Christmas concerts, and the unity. All of that is 379 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:06,400 Speaker 1: beautiful and prayerfully and hopefully, what all of that points 380 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: to is the greatest gift of all, and that's Jesus, 381 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:16,120 Speaker 1: that Jesus that we celebrate as a baby in the manger, 382 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: Jesus who having Heaven as his home, having the name 383 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 1: above every name, choosing to be obedient to God, the Father, 384 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:32,439 Speaker 1: to be born in a manger, to Joseph and Mary, 385 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: parents who by most biblical accounts were teenagers, so very, 386 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: very very young people who decided to obey God. When 387 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 1: I read about Mary, when I think about Mary, I 388 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: always think she had the hardest job on earth. She 389 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: was the mother on earth to Jesus. Can you imagine 390 00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: what that would even be like, you know, as a girl, 391 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: to have an angel tell you while you're still a 392 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 1: virgin and you're just engaged you're not even married, that 393 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:08,120 Speaker 1: you're going to give birth to the Messiah, the Son 394 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: of God. What obedience that she had, what understanding that 395 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 1: she had that she was going to birth the son 396 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:21,479 Speaker 1: that would be the Savior, the Messiah for the entire world. 397 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: And my prayer for all of you and for me 398 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 1: and for my family is that we won't forget the 399 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 1: gift of Jesus this Christmas season. I think that one 400 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:39,360 Speaker 1: of the most valuable traditions that my mom ever started 401 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:43,880 Speaker 1: in our family. And uniquely enough and oddly enough, when 402 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 1: she started this tradition, we weren't even Christians yet, we've 403 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: weren't in church. It was just a knowing that she had, 404 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 1: like hearing the Christmas story, hearing that Jesus was born 405 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:58,399 Speaker 1: in a manger, and that Christmas was about celebrating his 406 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: birth and life. When my sister and I were just little, 407 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 1: every Christmas we had a birthday cake for Jesus and 408 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 1: we would sing Happy Birthday and just have that mention 409 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:17,160 Speaker 1: right that time of just acknowledging that, Hey, this whole 410 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 1: event that takes so much time, that we go to 411 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: people's houses, we go to extra church events, all of 412 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 1: this when you bring it down to its root. When 413 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 1: you bring it down to its court, it's the gift 414 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: of Jesus and unwrapping the gift of Jesus Christ, taking 415 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: time to reflect on who he is and the blessings 416 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: that he brings to our life, the life that he gives, 417 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:48,360 Speaker 1: our sins that he forgives, the way that he took 418 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: us from being enemies of God to being children of 419 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 1: God to being born again made in the image of God. 420 00:26:56,800 --> 00:27:00,880 Speaker 1: Unwrapping that gift, understanding that the Word of God says 421 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 1: that for him nothing is impossible, and that the effectual, 422 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 1: fervent prayer of the righteous avails much his gift, the 423 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: gift of his life literally gives to us if we're 424 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:19,440 Speaker 1: willing to accept it. Salvation, miracles, answered prayer. Everything that's 425 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:23,399 Speaker 1: good in this life emanates through the hand of God. 426 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 1: He is the giver of every good and every perfect gift. 427 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: So as you celebrate this season, and really even if 428 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 1: you are in a season of grief and hurting and loss, 429 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: take just a few moments with me to reflect on Jesus, 430 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 1: on who he is, on what his word says, on 431 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:48,479 Speaker 1: the gift of his life, and what that means to 432 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 1: us even in our grief. He says right that he 433 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: is our peace, He is our comforter. He gives us 434 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 1: the peace that passes understanding. Wherever you are right now 435 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 1: and wherever I am right now, he is more than enough. 436 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 1: And this holiday season, while it can be carried away 437 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 1: with commercialism, and while we can get carried away with 438 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 1: ow you know, hardships and families and drama and all 439 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:20,000 Speaker 1: of that, don't miss the point. The point of the 440 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:25,879 Speaker 1: season is reflecting on Christ, on who he is. And 441 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 1: we can only know who he is by what his 442 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 1: word says about him. The Bible says heaven and earth 443 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 1: will pass away, but his word, his word will stand forever. 444 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 1: So maybe today, maybe through this holiday season, you'll start 445 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 1: the tradition of having a birthday cake for Jesus, of 446 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 1: just taking that moment of celebrating the reason for the holiday. 447 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 1: And one of the things in my family is we 448 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:56,000 Speaker 1: still do this. We still have this tradition today. I 449 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: grew up and took it with me and my family. 450 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: And in some Christmases there would be people at the house, 451 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:05,840 Speaker 1: relatives at the house who weren't believers yet, but yet 452 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 1: they could see this happy birthday to Jesus. It is 453 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 1: a reminder and an example to them of Hey, that's 454 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: what this celebration is all about. And you know, I 455 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 1: would love to hear also from you ways that you've 456 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 1: found to unwrap the greatest gift of all, the way 457 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:27,239 Speaker 1: to keep Jesus the focal point, the center point of 458 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: your Christmas celebration. I would love to hear about that. 459 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 1: Please reach out. 460 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 2: And let me know. 461 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: So maybe for you, as we talk about these gifts 462 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 1: that cost nothing but mean everything, you can give the 463 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 1: gift of kindness, the gift of a smile, the gift 464 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 1: of love, the gift of forgiving somebody who, like all 465 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 1: of us, doesn't deserve it, but that it would just 466 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 1: mean everything if we forgave them, and of course unwrapping 467 00:29:55,720 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: that that final gift, the best gift, the gift of Jesus. 468 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:04,840 Speaker 1: Taking time to worship him, taking time to sing Happy 469 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 1: Birthday to him, and just taking time to acknowledge that 470 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 1: He is the Lord of our lives and he is 471 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:15,040 Speaker 1: the one that gives us hope from day today. So 472 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 1: Marry Christmas to you and to yours. I hope it 473 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: is the best Christmas celebration. I will see you again 474 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:26,840 Speaker 1: next week right here on hope for the journey where 475 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:30,320 Speaker 1: we all remind each other that God's not done with 476 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: us yet, and that it's never too late to rewrite 477 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 1: your story.