GIVING..it's the gift that keeps on giving!

"Everyday, we get to give the gift of life. It can be painful. It can be terrifying. But in the end,it's worth it; Every time. We all have the opportunity to give. Maybe the gifts are not as dramatic as what happens in the operating room. Maybe the gift is to try and make a simple apology. Maybe it's to understand another persons point of view. Maybe it's to hold a secret for a friend. The joy supposedly is in the giving. So when the joy is gone, when the giving starts to feel more like a burden, that's when you stop. But if you're like most people I know, you give till it hurts...and then you give some more." --Meredith, Grey's Anatomy

This quote was from the most recent episode of Grey's Anatomy which was the "holiday" episode. When I heard her say it, it really struck me. When the holiday season rolls around, a lot of us get caught up in the shopping and all the superficial stuff. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely all about some shopping and I LOVE the holiday season; it's my absolute favorite time of year, but sometimes I have to stop and remind myself of what it's really all about. I have found that when I give a gift, give of myself or of my time that's when I receive the most joy. I was starting to feel sort of down about this holiday season because of various reasons, but a very dear friend of mine reminded me that I will be doing a great thing on Christmas eve (working) which will be bringing life into the world on the day of Jesus' birth! How neat is that?! That really helped me change my perspective on things. Because helping bring life into the world is really the greatest gift of all. God gave His one and only son, Jesus for each and every one of us. That's what Christmas is all about...and I'm constantly having to stop and remind myself of that when I catch myself getting caught up in other things...