December 30
Scripture: 1 Thes 5:26
Source author: Mark Littleton
December 30
A Friendly Kiss Greet all the brothers and sisters with Christian love. —1 Thessalonians 5:26
In my first years after graduation from college, I dreaded New Year’s Eve. My friends always threw a big party with lots of drinking. But the hard part for me was having no wife or girlfriend on such occasions. One year, when I was about twenty-three, two of my close friends, Jeff and Judy Winter, had converted to faith in Christ. They attended the annual party, and it was good to get together and talk about our mutual faith. Again that year, all my friends were there, some quite drunk, and everyone with a girlfriend or wife in tow. Except me. As everyone talked excitedly, the final moment came. I shrank back into the shadows and just hoped to endure it without feeling too depressed. Dick Clark rang off the numbers and everyone connected. But then, before she even kissed her husband, Judy walked over and planted a big one on my lips. “That’s for telling us about Jesus,” she said, and then melted into the crowd. I will always remember it as a moment of compassion directed at a lonely guy on a dark evening. Sometimes you just have to look out for those on the edge, people who aren’t
fitting in at the moment, and show them God’s love. They’ll treasure it.
Give a little love to someone who may be feeling lonely during this season. — Mark Littleton —