T Bones and Roses

  I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries. I wasn’t hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 57 years was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.

He often came with me and almost every time he’d pretend to go off and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I’d always spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands.

He knew I loved yellow roses. With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and leave, but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed on. Shopping for one took time, a little more thought than it had for two.

Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered how he had loved his steak.

Suddenly a woman came up beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large package of T-bones, dropped them in her basket, hesitated, and then put them back. She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks.

She saw me watching her and she smiled. “My husband loves T-bones, but honestly, at these prices, I don’t know.”

I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes.

“My husband passed away eight days ago,” I told her. Glancing at the package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. “Buy him the steaks. And cherish every moment you have together.”

She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away.

I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy. A quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone.

I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front. I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile I had ever seen! I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine.

As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes. “These are for you,” she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms. “When you go through the line, they will know these are paid for.” She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again. I wanted to tell her what she’d done, what the roses meant, but still unable to speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my vision.

I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasn’t alone.

Oh, you haven’t forgotten me, have you? I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel.

Every day, be thankful for what you have and who you are: 

“Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings. Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible. Thank you, Lord , that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising. Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, and my children are so loud.

Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the picture in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced.

Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest.

Thank you, Lord, for life. “

A Vanished Friend

I don’t know who wrote this, but I received it today in an email.  It hit me between the eyes like a ton of bricks.  There are more than a few people who come to mind when I read this.  To all of you I send my love and well wishes.  Let’s get together and catch some fishes!

 

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end.
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.

And I never see my old friend’s face;
For life is a swift and terrible race.
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.

And he rang mine – but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game;
Tired of trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow" I say, "I will call on Jim"
Just to show that I’m thinking of him.
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner, yet miles away;
"Here’s a telegram sir": "Jim died today."
And that’s what we get and deserve in the end;
Around the corner, a vanished friend.

Remember to always say what you mean. If you love someone, tell them. Because when you decide that it is the right time, it might be too late…

Seize the day. Never have regrets. And most importantly, stay close to your friends and family, for they have helped make you the person that you are today.

“My Feet Are Off The Ground”

I don’t know if this is true but a friend sent me this today and it really moved me:

From Tyler Perry: Writer and Actor

This morning I awoke and was so frustrated about all of the stuff that I’m dealing with in trying to get this studio open. I was about to open my mouth & start complaining when I remembered something that happened to me a year ago.

I was walking to my car when this woman who appeared to be homeless started walking towards me. I’m ashamed to say this but I thought, “I don’t feel like being hustled today.” Then I got quickly convicted. I felt guilty so I started digging in my pocket for some money. As she got closer I noticed that she had the kindest eyes that I had ever seen.

As I was reaching into my pocket she started to speak. I thought, “Here goes the sales pitch”. She said “Excuse me sir, I need some shoes. Can you help me?” My eyes filled with water because I remember being out on the streets and having only one pair of run over shoes. I was taken aback for a second.

I took her inside the studio and had my wardrobe people find shoes in her size. As she put the shoes on she started crying, praising God and thanking Jesus, and saying, “My feet are off the ground! My feet are off the  ground!”    

Several of the wardrobe people started crying. I was crying. But I never forgot those words. “My feet are off the ground!” I thought, “Wow! All she wanted was some shoes.”

She quickly disappeared and never asked me for a dime. I realized that I still had the money in my hand so I went out looking for her. She was gone just that quick so I looked all around the neighborhood for her. I found her standing on a corner looking down at her shoes, still crying. I was so touched.

I asked her how she had gotten homeless. She told me that she had AIDS and that she was waiting to get into a shelter.. She said that her family had turned their backs on her and that she had no place to go, but she knew that God would make a way for her. I said to myself, “He just did.”

Her faith and her praise moved me. I took her to a nearby hotel and put her up until she was able to get on her feet I had someone that worked for me to check on her from time to time and to make sure that she had food and clothes. After about a month or so we lost touch, but I never forgot her.

This past summer I was shooting ‘Daddy’s Little Girls’ and this woman walks up to me smiling. I didn’t recognize her face, but her eyes were familiar. She had on a really nice dress and her hair was done. It was her!

She told me that the little help that I had given her had changed her life. She was in a house now and doing very well.

I said all of that to say this. After I met this woman, every time I think about complaining and mumbling I remember, “My feet are off the ground!”
I wanted to share this with you just to let you know that when I say that I am thankful for you, I mean it. And when I say that you are a blessing to me, I mean it.

We take so much for granted sometimes that I just wanted all of you to know that I am grateful to God for you every day. Thank you for being in my life.
~Tyler Perry

When God takes something from your grasp. He’s not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better… "When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others"

Heal Our Land Lord!

Today is the National Day of Prayer. Our country was founded in prayer, established in prayer, and preserved through violent division and numerous external conflicts in prayer. 

America has overcome many trials and challenges in prayer.  It is by God’s grace that we stand, and it is only with His continued provision and protection that our nation can hope to endure and prosper.

However, it seems as though every form of evil is celebrated in America today. The USA is ill, and desperately needs healing. God told us that He would heal our nation if we do our part. Over 2000 years ago, God made us a promise that is still valid:

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (KJV)  2 Chronicles 7:14

Take a few moments today to humble yourself and seek God’s face, to thank Him for meeting your needs and giving you the blessing of life.  Ask for His continued hand of protection over this great country.

May His will be done in our midst

Things Are Not as They Seem

It is so easy to get caught up in the flow of life, and if we are not careful, it can become all about us.  However,  things are not as they seem.  It is true that we all face trials and challenges, but every day we are surrounded with people who are hurting as much or more than we are.  Every encounter is an opportunity to serve… if only we had eyes to see.

Check this out:  Get Service!

Thanks For Your Time

A young man learns what’s most important in life from the guy next door…

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way.  In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.
 
There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom . Yes, I heard you… It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life," she said

"He’s the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom , I’ll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture….Jack stopped suddenly..

"What’s wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said

"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk.. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most,’" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom ."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read.. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most was… my time"

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

***********************************************************************

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away,"

Think about this. You may not realize it, but it’s 100% true.

1. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

2 A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don’t like you.

3 Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

4.. You mean the world to someone..

5. If not for you, someone may not be living.

6. You are special and unique.

7. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won’t get it, but if you trust God to do what’s best, and wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.

8. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.

9. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.

10. Someone that you don’t even know exists loves you.

11.. Always remember the compliments you received… Forget about the rude remarks.

12 . Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you’ll both be happy .

13. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great..

Send this letter to all the people you care about, if you do so, you will certainly brighten someone’s day and might change their perspective on life…for the better.

Faith: Substance of Things Not Seen

This is from Paula J. Marolewski.  Sink Your Roots.

Faith. A small word packed with big meaning. Consider how Hebrews 11 defines faith:

• Faith trusts what G_d has said. (Hebrews 11:3)
• Faith worships G_d in an acceptable fashion. (Hebrews 11:4)
• Faith walks with G_d in the normal, daily activities of life. (Hebrews 11:5)
• Faith acts despite the seeming "unreasonableness" of G_d’s command. (Hebrews 11:7)
• Faith leaves its comfort zone. (Hebrews 11:8)
• Faith is content with what the Lord gives, even though it may not seem "complete". (Hebrews 11:9-10)
• Faith believes for the impossible. (Hebrews 11:11-12)
• Faith looks to the eternal. (Hebrews 11:13-16)
• Faith recognizes that we are pilgrims and strangers in this land. (Hebrews 11:13)
• Faith seeks for something beyond and greater than ourselves. (Hebrews 11:14)
• Faith does not turn back from discouragement, doubt, or despair. (Hebrews 11:15)
• Faith seeks for the best, the perfect of G_d. (Hebrews 11:16)
• Faith is willing to give up even what it loves the best: even what seems to be the promise itself. (Hebrews 11:17-18)
• Faith lets G_d be G_d; it doesn’t put G_d in a box. (Hebrews 11:19)
• Faith takes risks. (Hebrews 11:23)
• Faith takes humility over honor. (Hebrews 11:24-26)
• Faith is obedient. (Hebrews 11:30)
• Faith is willing to suffer and die for G_d. (Hebrews 11:35-40)

It is by grace that we live this life of faith. Make the above truth your own with this prayer:

By grace, through faith, I will trust in what G_d has said.

By grace, through faith, I will worship G_d in an acceptable fashion

By grace, through faith, I will walk with G_d in the normal, daily activities of life.

By grace, through faith, I will listen to G_d and act on what I hear, no matter how "unreasonable" or "irrational" his commands are to me.

By grace, through faith, I will leave my comfort zone when called by G_d to do so.

By grace, through faith, I will be content with what the Lord gives, even though it may not seem "complete".

By grace, through faith, I will believe for the impossible.

By grace, through faith, I will keep my eyes focused on the eternal.

By grace, through faith, I will remember that I am a pilgrim in this land, and heaven is my real home.

By grace, through faith, I will seek for something beyond and greater than myself.

By grace, through faith, I will not turn back from discouragement, doubt, or despair.

By grace, through faith, I will seek for the best, and not be content with less.

By grace, through faith, I will give up even what I love the best to G_d if he asks.

By grace, through faith, I will let G_d be G_d.

By grace, through faith, I will take G_dly risks.

By grace, through faith, I will accept humility over honor.

By grace, through faith, I will be obedient.

By grace, through faith, I will suffer and die for G_d if he calls me to that end.

The Most Famous Church You’ve Never Heard Of: Brief Must See Video

Incredible to see how far we have strayed from our roots…

 

From The Heart of The Pastor

Grace (II Corinthians 8:9)

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (II Cor. 8:9). 

Much mystery surrounds Jesus’ decision to take on man’s flesh and become like you.  The lone word enlightening you to the mystery of God’s incarnation is “grace.”  God’s abundant, boundless, extreme, imposing, impressive, magnificent, magisterial and unmerited kindness toward you demanded Jesus become a man so that you could take up residence with God. 

Jesus sacrificed unimaginable richness for He fully possessed all that is most scarce and most dear to man.  He enjoyed the hallelujahs of the angels, of martyred saints and of His Father. 

Nevertheless, Jesus became poor for you.  Though His humanity veiled His deity from mankind, He entered into the course of finite time so that you might enter into time infinite.  Fallen man failed to appreciate the God-man because the Son of Man had “nowhere to lay His head” (Lk. 9:58).  The heir of all things owned nothing.  Jesus was unrecognizable because He drank the cup of death to the dregs and was baptized with the baptism of crucifixion. 

For you He came from heaven’s glory to a borrowed tomb.  For you He “did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Phil. 2:6).  For you He “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant” (Phil. 2:7). 

Can you imagine “the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation” making the decisive, definitive sacrifice and surrender for you? (Col. 1:15).  Can you fathom the reality of the One by whom “all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” giving up all just for you? (Col. 1:16). 

Today, you could not be a partaker of the divine nature unless Jesus had pilgrimaged from His heavenly dwelling, from His heavenly robes, from His exercise of deity.  He took on rags so that you could be dressed in His holy gown.  God dressed Jesus in your sin, sin being the most extreme form of poverty, so that you might be draped in His righteousness (II Cor. 5:21). 

Because of Jesus’ voluntary poverty, Christians are rich.  Christians are inheritors of Jesus’ glory.  Your riches are proven by your ability to see Jesus with eyes of faith, to speak compassionately of Him with a tongue that once blasphemed, to love Him with a former heart of stone, to live for Him with a life that was death.  You have already inherited His precious and magnificent promises because He gave His life as a ransom for you. 

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us – for it is written, ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE’ – in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal. 3:13f.). 

SOLI  DEO  GLORIA!

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A Young Pastor’s Christmas Gift

By John William Smith
 
In 1962 I was preaching in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was single, and it was Christmas time. I was headed home to Michigan to enjoy the holidays with my family. It was an extremely cold day, and it was snowing.
 
The wind was howling out of the North, blowing thick clouds of fine flakes across the road – it looked like a blizzard. The roads were icy in places, and there was little traffic. Somewhere near Ft. Wayne, Indiana, I saw a soldier standing under an overpass. He had a green army cap pulled as tight and low as possible over his head, his collar was pulled up around his ears, his hands were shoved down in his pockets, and he had a stuffed duffel bag standing beside him.
 
I was driving a Chevrolet Corvette, and I was going very fast – faster than I should have been, considering the road conditions. As I sped by, the soldier jerked one hand out of his pocket and raised his thumb. My Corvette had two seats – not a front and back seat, but two seats side by side – and I was in one of them. The trunk was big enough to hold three loaves of bread and a pound of lunch meat. Not only was my limited trunk space stuffed full with the clothes and boots I would need for my stay in Michigan, the front seat was stacked high as well, with the presents that I had purchased for my folks and my nieces and nephews.
 
When I saw the soldier, I was going much too fast to stop, and I was well down the highway before I gave it much thought. I told myself that I couldn’t possibly get him and his duffel bag in the car – I debated about the terrible inconvenience and delay it would cause if I did, and by the time I decided that perhaps I ought to at least offer to help, I was two miles down the road and out of sight. But my Christian Conscience really went to work on me.
 
It was so cold, traffic was almost nonexistent – he was a soldier – and it was Christmas. The inner battle raged for another three miles.

Finally, I decided I would never get any peace unless I offered to help, so I made a U-turn and went back. I hoped with all my heart that someone else had picked him up.
 
That way, I could satisfy my conscience and not be inconvenienced – wouldn’t that be great? But he was still there, looking more forlorn, lonely, and cold than ever. I was disgusted. I pulled up and rolled down the window. He came running, stumbling on his numb feet, dragging the duffel bag. He leaned over and stuck his head in the window. His face was bluish, his teeth were chattering, his eyebrows and eyelashes were matted with frozen snow, and he could scarcely speak intelligibly.
 
"Thanks so much for stopping", he said. "I had about given up hope."
 
That was not what I wanted to hear.
 
"Where are you going?" I asked, hoping that it was in some direction that would alleviate me from further responsibility. "I live in Michigan, in Taylor Township," he said hopefully. That was really discouraging. It wasn’t directly on my may, but it wasn’t too much out of my way either.
 
"I’m going to Royal Oak," I said reluctantly. "Oh," he said, "I know where that is. That’s great! If I could just ride with you to Ann Arbor, it would mean a lot to me. I’m almost frozen; I can’t feel my ears or feet any more," he said plaintively.
 
"I don’t think I can possibly get both you and your things in," I said.
 
"If you’ll let me, I’ll get in – I promise you. I’ve been standing here for three hours."
 
I told him to try getting in, and we began rearranging things. The duffel bag was almost as big as he was, and there was only one place for it – the passenger seat. No matter how he put it in the car, he couldn’t get in himself. I suggested that maybe he could hide it somewhere and come back for it later. He said he couldn’t possibly do that; it had his kids’ Christmas presents in it, and he wasn’t going anywhere without it. I finally got out, walked around the car, and told him to sit down in the passenger seat. As he sat there, I wedged the duffel bag between his legs and between the floor and the roof of the car. I sandwiched all of my presents around him – and I slammed the door. He couldn’t move, he couldn’t see out either the windshield or his side window – but he was in. I still don’t know how we did it.
 
Once he began to get warm, he began to talk. I found out he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. "Didn’t I see you go by about five minutes ago?" he asked. I really felt stupid.
 
"Ummm, yes," I said. "You mean you turned around and came back?!" I nodded an affirmative.
 
"Why would you do that?" I paused a long moment.
 
"Well, you see, I was raised in a home where helping people who were in need was very important. In addition, I’m a minister – actually, it’s more than that – I’m a Christian, and if it weren’t for that, I’d probably still be going. I have as hard a time doing the right thing as most folks. I fought with this decision for five miles – it’s Jesus who makes me do things like turn around and come back. When I don’t do the right thing, I have this feeling He’s looking at me, and He’s so disappointed that I can’t stand it.
 
"Oh!" he said. "you don’t know how that convicts me. I’m  going to tell you something I never thought I’d tell anybody. I’m no Christian, but my wife is the best person in the whole world, and she goes to church all the time and takes the kids. Truthfully, I’ve done everything I could to discourage her, but she just keeps going. She’s all the time trying to get me to go, telling me that someday I’m going to wish I had.
 
"Do you know why I’m here hitchhiking? Let me tell you a little story. I was turned down for holiday leave because I got drunk and caused some trouble at the base. I was sick about it. I haven’t seen my wife and kids for six months. A friend of mine, who’s single, found out at the last minute that his folks were coming to visit some relatives who live close to the base during the holidays. He went to our commanding officer and volunteered to take my duty, if he would let me go home.
 
He gave me permission, but I had spent all my money buying presents, which I was going to mail home, so I decided to start hitchhiking. My family doesn’t even know I’m coming. I wasn’t sure I’d make it, and I didn’t want to disappoint them. I’ve been standing there for three hours, thinking. I watched folks drive by, and it occurred to me that some of them must be Christians, and it made me feel pretty bitter – until I got to thinking about what a lousy person I am, and I knew if I was them, that I probably wouldn’t stop either.
 
"Let me tell you something embarrassing – I got so cold, so lonely, and so desperate that I started to pray – honest to God I did – it was so humiliating. I told God that if he would help me, I’d do better. And you know what? About that time you showed up, and you told me that you came back because of Jesus – now what do you make of that?"
 
"Well, first I’d say that maybe there’s more to Christianity than either of us thought, and second, I’d say you’d better start doing better." I found out exactly where he lived, and we agreed that I could get him pretty close before I had to go in another direction. I think I knew what I was going to do long before I actually said anything. As we approached the intersection where I was going to let him out, I told him that I had made up my mind to take him home.
 
About two hours later, we pulled up in his driveway. It was almost dark.
 
He was really excited. He asked me to blow my horn, and I did. A few minutes passed, and the inside door opened slowly. The glass in the outside door was frosted over, and whoever was looking out could only tell that there was a car in the driveway. The outside door opened, and a five-or six-year old, barefooted boy peeked around the door. When he saw my sports car, he came out on the porch and peered intently at us. His dad opened the door and stepped out.
 
"Hi, David, it’s Daddy;  I’m home for Christmas!" He started to say more, but the boy had seen the uniform and heard the voice.
 
The boy’s face lit up, and he turned back into the house. I could hear him distinctly – "Mama, Daddy’s home," he yelled shrilly. "Daddy’s Home! Mama! Mama! Daddy’s home for Christmas!"
 
The door opened again, and it didn’t open slowly this time – it was thrown open. A woman dressed in a bathrobe and house slippers came running down the steps, her hair flying in the wind, oblivious to the snow and the cold, eyes and mouth opened wide with excitement, with joy etched in every line of her face. "Oh, Carl," she said, "Oh, Carl, you’re home. Praise God, you’re home.
 
The kids and I have been praying every day that, somehow, God would send you home."
 
She was followed by a skinny, fair-haired, ten-year-old girl and finally by a towheaded, blanket-toting, two or three-year-old girl. They kissed and hugged and laughed and cried, and they danced in the cold and the snow until the soldier finally disentangled himself from them long enough to introduce me.
 
"This is John," he said. "He’s a minister and he’s also a Christian; and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here. And I’m going to tell you something honey, right here and now. I told John that I had promised God that I was going to do better, and I am. I’m going to stop drinking, be a better husband, a better father – a better man – and we’re going to start going to church together."
 
I have never witnessed such gratitude in my life. They all had to hug me and kiss me – even the two-year-old – and they told me what a blessing I was to them and that they owed me a debt they could never pay. I was so embarrassed, because I was so unworthy. I had grudged the whole thing until after we had started talking. I wanted to tell them that I didn’t deserve any thanks.
 
I tried to leave, but they simply wouldn’t allow it. I had to go in the house. I had to eat something and drink something; I had to accept a gift from them – yes, I had to. They would not allow me not to, and the more they did, the better and the worse I felt.
 
I was so embarrassed. You know why? I had just witnessed something private – a family thing – something I wasn’t part of – something not meant for outsiders – and, yes, I was – I was embarrassed. And you know what else?
 
I envied Carl. I thought that it must be wonderful beyond description to be loved by a woman like that and missed like that and to be so unworthy – and I think Carl was just beginning to understand what he had. I have learned since then that only those who have come to know and feel the love of God can love the unworthy – and I have also learned that we are all unworthy.
 
Carl was home. I think that at that moment, home meant more to him, perhaps, than it would ever mean again. And when I got to my home and saw my folks and told them why I was late, they were so proud of me – and I was a little proud of myself. Home was somehow brighter, warmer, more dear to me than it had ever been before. Every human longing – bound up in the inherent yearning to be loved and to be "home" and to experience the peace and security that "home" signifies – has found its fulfillment in Jesus who said, " I go to prepare a place for you." Everything we ever dreamed of home being – what it was or was not – is in that place. Jesus has given purpose, even to the dream of death, because for those who know God – that is the way home.
 
"How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given.
So God imparts to human hearts,
the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
the dear Christ enters in."
 
Jesus comes to us in many ways. He came to me in the form of a freezing soldier trying to get home for Christmas. He came to a freezing soldier in the form of a young minister trying to find his way to God. Either one of us could have missed Him.
 
I hope Jesus comes to you this Christmas too, and His coming is always in an unexpected way – don’t ever miss Him.