Infinitum Family Advent, Week 2Sample

Generousity looks like Invitation and Welcome

Close your eyes for a few moments and click on your imagination …

Imagine someone you love who you’d like to hug—the kind of hug that is warm & safe & feels a bit like ‘home’ (this doesn’t have to be a family member you’re picturing).

Now imagine stretching your arms wide enough to include that person AND their whole friend circle. Take the time to imagine those people’s faces—are they smiling? Do they like that they’ve been invited into a group hug? If someone you’re imagining might be kind of shy about a group hug, use your imagination to picture them warming up to the idea and leaning into it.

Let your imagination stretch to picture these people inviting your whole neighborhood into this group hug. Even strangers! Even GRUMPY strangers! Use your mind’s eye to wander around the crowd as they’re gathering. Picture them being surprised by an invitation to a hug. Picture the old people and the little kids. Picture some people being really excited and other people being a little hesitant. Observe how different people respond as they receive the invitation to this affectionate group. And then picture your arms being long enough to wrap around ALL OF THEM.

Good job. That is a fantastic use of your imagination!

Jesus came to love the world. The whole world. All the people in all the history books in all the countries of the world - He hugs them all. That baby in a manger (Jesus) already had a big heart to hold the whole world.

Mind blown, right?!?

God is our Dad…that kind of heart is in our design! YOUR heart!

Soooooo…what simple acts could you do to demonstrate a generousity to the world that looks like Jesus’ kind of “welcome”? Or maybe you have a Jesus kind of invitation to give to someone?