Note to Self at Crunch Time

It's Crunch Time. Every year I vow to have everything done well ahead and every year I violate my vow. It's that time. And when the self-inflicted pressure begins to ratchet up, I can get grumpy. Not exactly the Christmas spirit. 

A short verse in Daily Guideposts this morning caught my eye as an antidote to short circuit the "grumps":

10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

                                                                                                                      Deuteronomy 15:10-11

I can't solve the problems of the poor or even those of my own family and friends, but I can give without a grudging heart of my time, talent, treasure and attitude and thereby receive what is really at the heart of Christmas. God did so in sending His Son, so it's the least I can do.