So, just be you. Everyone else is taken. Then, “pay it forward” to someone else!

The very best Christmas Eve occurred in the little town of Bethlehem. Two great men were born there, David and Jesus. David was a man who loved God; Jesus is God who loves man. Sometimes great things and people have humble beginnings. Athlete Lance Armstrong never knew his birth father. Apple creator Steve Jobs was born to an unwed mother. Albert Einstein ha a speech impediment and was told by his early teacher sent a note home to his mother and told her to just keep him home because he wouldn’t amount to anything. Charles Schultz was a shy, timid teenager. Plain, ordinary, slightly flawed—do you feel that describes you?

There are many Bible stories of people God chose to do some of the greatest things: Moses led the Israelites out of bondage and orchestrated many mirades in the desert with God’s leading. Yet he stuttered and tried to back out of doing what God had chosen him for. Read up on the unlikability of David becoming one of the greatest kings. Joseph, Esther, Ruth, Jonah, and the list goes on.

My point is you were created to serve on this earth for a purpose. And, I’d like to add, to make the world a better place, one step at a time. No one is exactly like you. It doesn’t matter what you look like, who your parents are, what kind of house you live in, what kind of clothes you wear. You were created by God to do something for the world that no one is to do. If you’re fighting battles to accomplish this, then know that another spiritual force (Satan) wants you to fall flat on your face every time you try.

If you keep getting up and keep on keeping on, Satan will soon back off and go find another to hopefully win to his side. He’s real. It’s real, and Christmas is a great time to make a commitment to be a real winner! Then, you’ll never know in this world now just how many people of all ages you can encourage, uplift, bless, and have a wonderful impact on. Believe you can, and you will. Start with little actions....Remember the busy little ants! Start by blessing somebody this season and make it a habit from now on. Funny thing is, you will be blessed, too, as you continue to do this from now on!

(Note: the idea for this writing comes from Debbi Bryson’s book worth getting: THE ONE YEAR WISDOM FOR WOMEN DEVOTIONAL. Published by Tyndale House, 2013.