Being God’s Instruments of Light
Sunday, December 24, 2023
Sharing The Light Of Christ!
Isaiah 60:2
For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
Luke 2:15
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’
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Words of Grace For Today
Days before Christmas, 8 year old Ginger’s 9 year old sister, upset at all the work cleaning they were supposed to do before Christmas, told Ginger, “Santa does not exist. All this Christmas stuff was just a big, mean lie. It’s just work, work, work. It’s not fair.”
Ginger ran devastated to Grandma, “Grandma, Sis says Santa does not exist. That Christmas is all a big lie.”
When Ginger ran devastated to Grandma, saying Sis had said Christmas was a big lie, Grandma responded thoughtfully, “I’ve heard that nasty, mean rumour. It’s been going around for years.” After a pause, hoping she’d find some inspiration along the way, Grandma continued, “Come let’s go. I want to show you something.”
So off they went to the store. There Grandma, knowing Ginger loved dolls, asked her to pick one from the display just inside the door. As she choose one Grandma said, “I’m going to give you more than three times enough money to buy that doll. It’s from Santa, just for you. Then you can go and find a gift for someone you know who really needs something for Christmas. Meet me back here by the door.”
Holding her unpaid for doll, Ginger walked through the store for the first time by herself. She thought of who really might need something. Her family, her cousins, people at church, people at school …. That’s when Ginger remembered Ben needed a jacket. He came to school without one so he never went out for recess with the other kids.
It didn’t take long before Ginger found a perfect, warm looking, red parka with a hood, just a bit big for Ben. Ginger took the parka and her doll to the checkout counter, and handed the lady all her money, including the $2.75 of her own money she had with her. She explained that the jacket was for Ben, who needed one, and the doll was a gift for her from her Grandma. The lady said, kind of loud so even the other people in line behind her heard, “You don’t have enough money for both. You have to choose.” A lump started to form in Ginger’s throat.
Now Ginger had heard all the stories to us of God’s preparation for Christmas and of the people who had waited for centuries for the birth of the messiah. She’d heard of the ancient prophecies. She’d heard the story of the angel coming to Zachariah and Elizabeth – telling them of the birth of John the Baptist, of Zachariah’s muteness and Elizabeth’s joy. She’d heard of the other angelic visits to Mary and Joseph. On Christmas Eve, she’d heard again of no vacancy at any inn, a cow barn full of animals, of shepherds, and of angel choirs singing.
And as that lump formed in her throat, Ginger also remembered what her Sunday School teacher had said about Jesus sending us out to share with others what God has given us, especially people in need. Ginger said, “I guess Ben needs the jacket a lot more than I need the doll.” Ginger got 55 cents change and the parka in a large bag.
Ginger found Grandma waiting at the door with a card to attach to the bag. Ginger explained she only had enough money to get Ben a warm parka and what she remembered from Sunday School. Grandma, knowing she’d found her inspiration, said, “If you write on it ‘To Ben, from Santa’, he’ll know that Santa is real. But if you write on it, ‘To Ben, from Jesus’ friend’ he’ll know that Jesus is real. Which is more important?” Ginger didn’t have to think very hard. “Let’s write it’s from Jesus’ friend and add ‘Open now!’”
They drove to where Ben lived, pulled around the corner and walked back to the bushes just outside the door to Ben’s house. They paused to catch their breath. Then Grandma pushed Ginger out, “Go, put the bag on the step and ring the doorbell.” She did just that and ran back to the bushes.
Ginger waited, shivering with excitement next to Grandma. She still shivers today remembering how Ben’s mom came to the door, read the card, and called Ben, looking out following the footsteps in the snow to the bushes where the two stooped, mostly out of sight.
Ben came, read the card, tore into the bag, laughed and jumped with joy before putting the parka on. His mom asked if he wanted to yell out thanks. He did just that before they went inside.
Ben may or may not believe in Santa, but for the rest of his life he knew that Jesus has good friends.
On Christmas there was a mystery gift under the tree at Ginger’s house, with a card that read, “To Ginger, from Santa, who was in line behind you when you bought Ben his Jacket.” Inside was the doll Ginger had left on the counter at the store.
(2004 the original story of Ginger was read on the Radio, written by a listener in Lethbridge. This is a highly edited version rewritten by TL, 2023)
