This Christmas, my cousin who seems to hate everything and everyone is visiting me. What can I do to help her realize life is beautiful when all she sees is her poverty and brokenness?
People who are filled with hate and anger have brokenness in their lives. They are difficult to be around and are skeptical when people show them kindness. And yet the Christmas season is a time when you can show her that the child who was born 2000 years ago shared our brokenness so we can be made whole. Jesus Christ came to embrace her, share her pain and give her power to rise above her circumstances. Show her kindness without overdoing it. Listen to what she has to say, don’t be judgmental. Empathize with her feelings. Prepare a special gift for her. Overlook her faults.
The Bible says:
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
Obviously, it will take a lot of work before she can work out her personal issues. But this Christmas, sow seeds of kindness into her life. Other people who will be there will take notice and hopefully do the same. Your cousin will take note of the fact that someone cares for her. And that will encourage her to open her heart to God.
Jesus said: Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14)
At the appropriate time, don’t hesitate to tell her that Jesus came for all of us. Because the truth is, all of us have brokenness that only He can heal.
