My personal Christmas story for you.

Instead of my normal email today, I'd love to share with you a short story that I personally experienced a few years ago. Perhaps this is a story you'll want to share with your family this Christmas season!

Christmas Eve had finally arrived, and it seemed as if the stress of the last few weeks' preparations suddenly subsided for a moment. The glow in the children's eyes indicated that it was almost time. Nearly the entire village had gathered to attend the church service, and afterwards, the children would be allowed to unwrap their many gifts! Hopefully they'd get what they'd been wanting for so long.

Little Emily was with her family on this special day in the festively decorated church, listening to the pastor's words. He kept talking about Christmas as the "feast of love." From what she'd seen so far, the season seemed more like a "feast of stress" for everyone around her than a "feast of love!" She wondered what the pastor meant by his words. Why was everyone so stressed when they could love, and be loved, instead?

As they were leaving the church, she was still dwelling on this thought. That's when she saw an elderly man huddled in the back pew. "Why are you here by yourself?" asked Emily without hesitation. The man smiled wearily at her and said, "Because I'm alone."

Briefly, Emily hesitated, then took his hand and said, "You're not now. Would you like to have dinner with us?" Tears rolled down the man's wrinkled cheeks, and he answered, "That's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."

At dinner, Emily's mother asked, puzzled, "Aren't you finally going to open your presents?" Emily replied, her eyes fixed on the elderly man, "I already have, Mom."

Maybe what we've been wanting so desperately isn't something found in a gift box. Perhaps we've been carrying the answer to our deepest longings inside of us for a long time. We just need to unwrap it by passing it on.

If you share Jesus' love today, could it be the greatest of gifts to you, too? 😊🎁 John 3:16 reminds us that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)

You are a miracle!

Déborah