“This Christmas mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love, and then speak it again.” ― Howard W. Hunter

I’m not hanging any lights up before Thanksgiving, but I am ready to make my first wish of the Christmas season. It involves you, so keep reading. Surely there’s someone in your life, maybe even in your past who needs to hear a good word from you. To be honest, there’s two blessings that will happen. Not only will you arrive at just the right time and bring the rare gift of  encouragement but you’re also going to walk away with your own tank filled.

Years ago I decided I needed to track down my college freshman year roommate and apologize for being such a jerk. Once I found him, he was a gentleman and swore he didn’t know what I meant. But I came away feeling such a weight off my shoulders. All the effort was worth it. I’m still talking about it – not my own virtue but the tremendous value of apology.

This isn’t really what I’m advocating – going back and seeking forgiveness for all your mistakes. What I really think you should do is think about people in your life who need to hear from you, need to be reminded about how important they were and are in your life story.

“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.”  ― Henry Ward Beecher

I was having a terrible couple of weeks. Praying for a lift out of those choppy seas. A colleague showed up out of the blue and sat down to share a plan of action. He has consistently gone out of his way to check on me and offer words of support. Later, on the way home, I received a message from a former student. She went on to get her PhD at Rice and is now a professor at UH. She sent me a link to a “blog” she had written.

Here’s the link. Go ahead and read it – get some inspiration.

The reason I’m pointing you here is not to toot my horn but I wanted you to see how significant this was for me to hear – at just the right time. It was an answer to prayer. Another way that God is keeping me from drowning. I remember when we were fighting cancer and people would say, “let me know if there’s anything you need.” All offered in good will. But after a time I started responding back, if there’s something you think about that you should do, then just do it, don’t ask for permission. That’s probably God giving you a nudge.

I need to be more spontaneous and make today count. What about you?

Again, there’s someone in your life that needs to hear back from you. You don’t need to write and publish a blog. A phone call, a thank you note, a lunch – something simple yet significant. Add some meaning to both your lives. All the time you are currently spending on that career, house, hobby, etc. is going to end up as dust. All the people in your life story – matter forever.

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last week I took this former student out to lunch. We hadn’t seen each other for so many years. Suddenly I need to dispose of all the books in my life. I have an enormous library at my office and at home. Both collections need to go fast. After our lunch, I passed on a box of my books that she could use in her field. A very small way for me to keep the blessing going.

Now, what to do with all the rest of these books? Got any ideas?

Who is it you are thinking about right now? Who needs to hear from you?