The following story came to me in a Christmas Card from Joe & Pat Flores and it so moved me. It is the epitome of Christmas, giving, giving our best to one another. I so often hear people complain that Christmas is so commercialized and I can’t afford, etc. but we forget we each have talents and gifts that can be shared with each other. Sometimes sharing a story, holding someone’s hand, listening, the present of presence is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Taking someone’s cart back in the parking lot at the store, visiting a neighbor who lives alone, calling a friend and encouraging them, there are so many ways to give our best to one another.
I encourage you this Christmas and in the New Year to be mindful of going out of your way to be a blessing, become a giver and I guarantee you will find yourself blessed beyond measure.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our family to yours.

🌽Growing Good Corn🌽

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon.

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about the way he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.

“How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

“Why sir,” said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up the pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improves.

So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn.

It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the generous man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself. Proverbs 11:24-25

Kelli B 🎄

Thank you for sharing, Pat & Joe Flores.