For as long as I can remember, I’ve been getting up extra early in the morning to pray, meditate and spend time with God. For some reason my day just doesn’t feel right if I don’t do that. It’s about the only thing in my life that I’ve been able to fully commit to without drifting.
In 2008 my sister gave me a small book for Christmas called “This Christmas Night” by Billy & Ruth Graham. Every year since receiving it, I’ve incorporated reading this little book into my Christmas season quiet time. Below is an excerpt that I read this morning that I felt significant and worthy enough to share…
In a little town in Florida there was an unpretentious home for small, unwanted boys. Having little of this world’s goods, the kindly matron made it up to them the best way she knew how. She loved them, mothered them, fed them, taught them to love God, to read their Bibles (those old enough to read that is) and to say their prayers. She laughed with them, listened sympathetically to their troubles (even as she stirred the soup), made her corrections few, her exhortations brief and then she loved them some more.
One day…and this is a true story…a well-to-do lady from a distant city came to see about adopting a boy. Everyone was pleased and happy for the fortunate little boy who was going to have such a fine home…such a successful man for a father and such a beautifully dressed lady for a mother.
The lady smiled down at the small boy and asked, “Do you have a bicycle?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Well” she promised, “we will buy you one. And have you roller skates?”
“An old pair” he replied.
“We’ll buy you a lovely new pair. And tell me, have you a transistor radio?”
The boy look puzzled. “I haven’t got any radio at all,” he said.
“Well never mind, we’ll get you one.”
Still puzzled, the small boy studied her solemnly then blurted out… “Please ma’am, if that’s all you’re going to give me, I’d rather stay here.”
This particular little “reflection” really resonated with me…especially after last week’s blog post about the “hard candy Christmases” we had growing up. Once again I’m reminded of what’s really important at Christmastime and throughout the rest of the year. I’m reminded that oftentimes the things we all want and need cost very little and don’t always come in a box.
Now to wander a bit…I’m a proud baby boomer and will never end my love affair with having grown up in the 60s and 70s. Back in the day Dionne Warwick sang a non-Christmas song that seemed a fitting way to end this blog post…it’s called What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love…
Merry Christmas Everyone!