HURRY! It's almost here! Last Minute Christmas Shopping.

It's a countdown - but not to what really matters! It's a countdown to some last minute shopping! Isn't there some better things we could be doing with our money and our time? Couldn't we make a better statement with our lives?

span style="line-height: 1.22;">MOORESVILLE, N.C. - Oh, the rush is truly on. The next 4 days are the most heavily shopped days of the year. $51 Billion dollars will be spent in the U.S. from now until Christmas. We are some money spending people in America! You know, there are other things to "spend" than money! Well, they just aren't as easy or convenient. That is how we do things in our, I hate to say it, materialistic capitalistic society. Don't get me wrong, I love our country and I think it's the best thing we've come up with to date in our rich world history. Notice I said "to date".  The vast majority of us will opt for giving our cash, rather than giving our time or effort. We all have the best of intentions, but we look for expediency, convenience and the easiest way out of many things. Is that what we want to pass on to our children? To forget to do what is right or good because it is inconvenient or we have something "better" to do? Maybe it's time to take a real good look at ourselves.

We've all been guilty of it at one time or another, maybe it's time to be that example to our children that it's a good and preferred thing to give our time in volunteering, to going to a soup kitchen to do some work; instead of giving money to it. Maybe participate in our churches more and not put such an emphasis on how much money we give. Maybe we can even do both!! I know of several families that do just that - God Bless them!! 

I would love to propose that we all buy less presents for our families next year and use the extra money to buy things for those in need. I am in favor of spending the money to help our economy - so we can still buy things, we just need to give them to people that really need things! It is better to give that to receive, right??!! We could also give at least one hour of our time during the Christmas season to help others in whatever imaginative way you can think of. In doing this, please consider what you would truly be giving: gifts to those in need, and meaningful gifts of a lifetime to your families and loved ones. Let's all promote this and make this a call to all!! God bless each of you during this beautiful Christmas season!

Pope Francis calls for your 'prayer and action'...

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