As the calendar turns to December, it's starting to feel like Christmas season. And in the spirit of

Christmas, we thought we take a few minutes today and provide a podcast for you about something that's

near and dear to our heart. And when I say R, it's not just me and Jessica this time. It's my mom.

You may remember a couple of years ago. We did a really large fundraiser drive for Christmas Shining Star in Kansas City and St. Joseph and provided a whole bunch of gifts and we'll be making donations again this year.

And I thought it would be a wonderful time of year as we're watching all of our favorite holiday movies, whether you're watching Chevy Chase, stumble around on the roof of his house or Will Ferrell dressed as an elf or the

Christmas classic Home Alone where little Kevin stays home and foils the bad guys trying to

get into his house and steal all their stuff. Or, you know, maybe it's a bunch of Christmas stories

or parties that you'll be attending or events that you

be going to throughout the month of December.

One thing that we all have in common this month is we recognize this is the time of the year

to think about others.

Each one of those iconic movies, every message that you hear in church or your service

this time of year is about giving. It's about others.

It's about help to those maybe less fortunate, those in need, or maybe it's just opening a door for

someone at the store when you go to Walmart. Maybe you just stand there and open a door for somebody

or do something kind. It's a different kind of world that we live in now. I was at

Walmart the other day, and instead of the bell ringers out there with the Salvation Army, I saw a

kiosk set up with one of those QR codes that you scan your phone and can donate that way. And I have no

problem doing it that way. I think that's wonderful if it gets more people to give, but it seems like

some of the personal

touch from so many things is gone in our lives. And this would be a great month to just reconnect

with other people, family, friends, maybe somebody you haven't spoken with in a while or reached

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