Remember to put the needs of others first

"Love one another with brotherly affection (as members of one family), giving precedence and showing honor to one another."

- Romans 12:10 (AMP)

As we go forward to have a happy holiday celebration, we need to remember having fun involves good, Christian etiquette. I listed a few lighthearted scenarios to keep our minds and attitudes refreshed in the spirit.

There was one piece of cake left at our family celebration. It was a perfect slice. The strawberry filling oozed from between the two layers of vanilla cake. It was topped off with a delicious, mouthwatering chocolate frosting such that even the sight of it could tantalize your taste buds.

I noticed two family members each had their eye on that last piece. I wondered what the outcome would be. My heart was touched when one of them politely offered it to the other. I may have split it, and it would have been a pleasant solution.

When we make a decision to put ourselves second, we are making the choice to allow others to be first and take precedence over our desires. Have you thought about how you may have allowed someone to have precedence over your desires? It doesn't have to be anything great. Many times it's shown in the little things we do.

While grocery shopping and pressed for time, I've often noticed someone standing in line behind me with only a few items in the cart. When possible, despite my busy schedule, I make the decision to allow them to go ahead of me in line. I think of it as another opportunity to put someone else before myself.

While waiting in line to use a public restroom, I've noticed someone allow a handicapped person or a parent with a small child to go ahead of them. It's another of the many ways we can allow someone else to take precedence over our wants and needs.

Allowing others to go ahead of us shows selfless love, respect, and desire to put others first. Adjusting the way we may normally think and changing our focus from our own needs shows we care about someone besides ourselves.

I believe our holiday celebrations could be a joyous occasion as we practice letting someone's needs take precedence over ours. These little, everyday matters are a small way we can make a big impact by showing others someone cares.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.