I am enjoying the Christmas Season and everything it entails. From the elf on the shelf (who is seriously staring at me right now...his eyes are a little creepy) to nightly fun that we are trying to squeeze in...it just doesn't get any better than this. Then we are hit with reality...the reality that this time of year may be hard for some people...people that have lost loved ones this year, lost jobs....lost hope.
My friend Stephanie was working at the secret Santa shop at her son's school this week...it's a little store they set up for the kids to come in and buy extremely overpriced things for their family. Even though it's overpriced:) the proceeds do go to help the school and I am all for that! As she was working the gift wrap table a little girl came up with her gifts and her list. On the top was naturally "MOM". Stephanie asked the little girl if this was for her mom and the teacher and the little girl told Steph at the same time that she had passed away. Steph immediately welled up in tears and apologized to the teacher(how was she to know)...but that little girl burned a hole in her heart. She just happens to be the little girl of the lady who died in the floods in September. The little girl who ran around our church gym while tons of people were frantically searching for her mom during the storms. The little girl......who won't have her mom for Christmas.
Stephanie told me this story and about how her little boy, Clint, cried when he overheard her telling the story....and then I began to cry. Sitting in my bedroom while all four kids were watching TV on my bed.....I cried. Cried for Steph....for Layla...for her dad and brother...for kids that don't have their Mom's and Dad's. For Mom's and Dad's that don't have their kids. It was a quiet cry...since I was on the phone and all....but Shelby looked over at me and saw me. She got up, without saying a word, and came over to me and took her pudgy little fingers and wiped the tears off of my eyes. Then she turned around and walked back to watch TV!
It was such a sweet moment....to know that Shelby didn't have to say words....she just wiped my tears. It gently reminded me how God is there for us. How He tells us in Isaiah 25:8 "He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces" ! He knows our hurts, struggles, fears, heartbreaks....He knows it all and He and He alone is the Great Comforter...He is our JEHOVAH-RAPHA which means the Lord our Healer! I will take comfort in those things that I know He is...and that He wipes my tears..just like Shelby did that day. He won't have to say a word!
I hope that you will remember those hurting and in need...find a way to bless someone today and remember what an Awesome God we serve! And the picture above....I love the way the light is hitting her face...it reminds me of the blessing she is and the light she is to everyone around her!
4 comments:
this is a good one.
Several from my church spent the morning serving a local mission's toy give-away. Tears welled up in my eyes when I heard of one mother that came to the mission at 4 AM knowing that the doors would not open until 8 AM. The story you have told and what I saw this morning are the true Christmas we should all be celebrating. Thank you for sharing and all will be in our prayers.
Steph told me that same story and I too got off the phone and was reminded of how blessed we really are. There are so many people who are hurting right now because of a lost loved one. It changed my prayer life for the Christmas season. And well, Clint and Shelby (Rainwater) are just some of the most precious little ones ever. They are products of Godly homes and they love people. Psalm 8:2 "Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger."
Oh my gosh.. I'm trying not to cry as I read your post. What a sweet little blessing Shelby is. It's so nice to see when mom's recognize the little blessings in life and know they are from God.
Hugs to you,
Michelle
(PS: Found this post through BlogHer)
Post a Comment