It is more blessed to give than to receive. After spending several days with two of our granddaughters, who are 6 and 4 years old, I was reminded of a valuable lesson.

All of life is designed to teach us to bend our wills to line up with the Divine Will. Seeing the children, who are sweet as can be, yet still have a very robust will that can be beneficial or destructive, was like looking at myself in the mirror.

I was reminded of how willful I can be. Having a strong will can be a great asset but only when it is bent the right direction. When I exert my will against the clear will of God it is just as ugly as when a child exerts their will in defiance of their parents.

Virtually every major problem I have faced in my life has come when my will is more important to me than the will of God. So then, how do I focus that God-given gift to choose in the right direction?

One day at a time is the answer to that question. I make a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God and then daily surrender praying for the knowledge of His will and the power to carry it out. Continually looking to do the next right thing.

What a gift to give to God this Christmas. The gift of a surrendered will!

blessings and Merry Christmas,

Scott