A Christmas Story

A Christmas story

Christmas is upon us once again. I was thinking about what this day means to me personally. A day of reverence comes to mind first. The birth of our Saviour. It is much more however. It is a day of memories. A day of reflection. A day of peace. It is many things to different people. It is a day when people for whatever reason show something that is noticeably missing, during the other days of the year. Compassion. We as a people go out of our way to be charitable this time of year. We look at what we have and for brief moment in time, are willing to share this with other people that may not have anything. It is something that tugs at the hearts of people who ordinarily may never think of such.

Christmas is a day that brings out the best in us all. When we are able to look beyond ourselves and make a small change in the lives of a complete stranger. To make life bearable for someone who has lost the will to believe in their ability to make ends meet or feed a hungry child when the cupboards are bare. It is a day of hope. A day of giving. A day of gratitude.

It is a day when we can look back and remember a not so distant time when we were once all together as a family. A day of comfort. A day of love. The look in our children's eyes as we gathered around the Christmas tree. A day of happiness. A day when all of the problems that we face, seem to fade away.

I've often wondered what life without Christmas would be like. It is unimaginable to me and yet, there are some of us out there, whose lives are so empty and devoid of hope, that they would try to take this day away from us. To make us and our children believe that to be a people of faith is wrong. Christmas is fading away from this great country at an alarming rate. Christians are being pushed aside by a non-believing minority. This country was founded by men of faith and that very belief has has been under siege now for some time.

Imagine a world without Christmas. I can't. Keep this day alive. Keep hope alive. Remember what this day is about. Spread the word.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A Chistmas Angel

An interesting footnote on life, for the upcoming holidays.

Yesterday, while working at a business downtown.( I had been up on the roof trying to repair an ancient air conditioning and heating system.) I was taking my extension ladder down and putting it up onto my ladder rack on top of my service truck. I noticed this man walking towards me. He looked like a homeless person. He had on rags for clothes and was somewhat tattered in appearance.

He had a paper cup full of Ramen Noodles, you know the kind that you see in stores, that you add water to and heat up in a microwave. He was walking up to me with that familiar look, like he was going to ask me for a handout and I was preparing myself for my answer. I finally got my ladder up in place. He was still standing there looking at me.

"Can I help you?" I asked him.

He looked at me with this funny expression and said, "No...I help him clean." pointing at the business behind me where I was working.

"Oh", I said. I started to walk away from him to get in my truck, so that I could fill out my invoice. As I got up in the truck seat and sat down, he walked back over to where I was. He was making me a little bit uncomfortable. I looked out the door at him and said, "Do you need something?"

"No". He smiled at me and then he said, "Merry Christmas!"

It sunk in, in an instant how judgmental I had been. I felt humbled. It's funny, I had been in a "Bah-Humbug" state and haven't even felt the Christmas spirit this year. I've been listening to a radio station that has been playing nothing but Christmas carols all month now and in spite of this, just haven't been in a very festive mood.

This man had just about all that he owned, on his back. I have been truly blessed in comparison and in spite of this difference, he had a better outlook at that exact moment, than I did.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Hebrews 13:2

God certainly works in mysterious ways.