Jerry's Christmas

                                 “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;

he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You

will find a baby wrapped in clothes

and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:11-12 (NIV)

 

 

I’ll never forget that precious little boy: freckles scattered like tiny raindrops across his entire face, including his ears. Big brown eyes partially obscured by long else’s property first, but he never seemed to care., wispy blonde hair that brushed against an ever-present smile minus two front teeth.

 

Jerry was a first-grade student at the elementary school where I worked. He came from a home that was short on money but long on love. His clothes were always someone

 

And this Christmas season was no different.

 

As a mother of three, I was frantically trying to balance home, husband, kids and job while I shopped endlessly for the perfect “only thing I want” gifts for my family. Somewhere in the rush of the season, my focus shifted from the birth of a baby in a manger to the number of presents under our Christmas tree.

 

There was some success but at a price . . . a high price. My Christmas budget was shrinking rapidly. “Why couldn’t my children want something a little cheaper?” I kept thinking. “Why do they think they have to have everything they see on television?”

 

Those questions were occupying my thoughts as I walked down the first-grade hall and saw Jerry skipping toward me in his winter coat that was about three sizes too large and worn tennis shoes minus the laces.

 

“Hey, Jerry! How are you?” I asked. “I’m good, Miss Nancy. It’s almost Christmas . . . Jesus’ birthday . . . did you know?” I couldn’t help but smile at that comment. “Yes, I have heard that. So what do you want for Christmas, Jerry?”

 

He quickly replied “Oh, I already know what I’m getting. It’s the same every year.”

 

At this point I would have expected a child making that statement to duck his head in disappointment and go on, but not Jerry.

 

As I knelt down to hug and encourage him, Jerry put his hands on my shoulders and, with a huge smile, continued: “When I wake up on Christmas morning, there will be a BIG candy cane under my pillow!” as he licked his lips and rubbed his tummy in anticipation of that moment. “And then, under the tree, I’ll get a little Matchbox car to add to my others. I can hardly wait, Miss Nancy!”

 

As I hugged Jerry and watched him skip on to class, I could not hold back the tears of sadness – not for Jerry but for my attitude. Instead of focusing on Christ and His birth, I had gotten caught up in the world’s view that the number of gifts you have under the Christmas tree determines your happiness.

 

Christmas at our home would never be the same again. All because of a candy cane under a pillow, a Matchbox car under a tree . . . and a very thankful little boy named Jerry.

 

 

Father, thank you for the most priceless gift of love you could ever send – the gift of your Son.  May we never forget that He went from a manger to the cross for us.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Do you find yourself focused more on gifts than the Giver of Life at Christmas?

 

• Have you talked with your children about the Ultimate Gift that Jesus gave each of us?

 

Apply

• Sit down with your children and help them write on slips of paper the gifts that they can give Jesus this Christmas, like trusting Him, being obedient, and sharing Him with friends.

 

• Have them wrap each of their gifts for Jesus in a box and offer each one to Him on Christmas morning in prayer.

 

Power

• Luke 2:11-12 (NIV) “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.” 

 

• Romans 6:23 (NIV) “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

• 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV) “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

 

• John 1:14 a (NIV) “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

 

• Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

 

 

A Constant Reminder

  “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

Several years ago I was asked by an elementary principal to observe Grant, a new student in the second grade at our school. The teacher was concerned that he might have some problems focusing in class and could fall behind. She wanted me, as school nurse, to do an observation of his behavior for a few minutes in the classroom.

What I found was a student who slithered over, around and under his desk, chatted with himself and other students and looked over at me and winked “Hey Nurse Nancy. How’s your day going?” – all while the instructor taught the math lesson.

I was sure he hadn’t heard a single instruction she had given and watched as she wrote a math problem on the board and gave instructions. “Please write this problem down in your math journal,” she told her students, “and I will give you five minutes to see if you can figure out the answer.”

“Eighteen,” we heard a voice instantly say. Shocked, the teacher and I both turned to look at Grant. “What?” she said. Grant smiled. “The answer is eighteen.” He was right! Even though it didn’t appear that he was listening at all, he actually was.

Proverbs 22:6 speaks to so many of us who are praying our children are listening as we share Jesus in a world that is continually preying on their hearts.

First, look at what the verse does NOT say. It does not say that if you raise your children to know the Lord, they will never turn from Him as they get older. Nor does it say that children who have wandered will automatically turn back to the Lord as adults. We all have the ability to make choices in our lives.

But what it DOES say is beautiful to our ears: teach your child about the Lord. Share the words of Jesus over and over and explain what love and trust, mercy and forgiveness, grace and hope mean. Then, if your child wanders down a wrong path as he gets older, God’s Word will return to him again and again.

He will be reminded in his heart of the love Jesus has for him no matter where he is or what he is doing. In other words, “he will not turn from it” because he will remember what you have taught him. What about you and your children? Have you ever felt like giving up because they seem to totally tune you out? Do you feel like you are losing the spiritual battle for their souls?

My encouragement to you is this: please don’t give up! Our hope is in Christ alone! What we have taught and shared about Jesus will be a constant reminder of His love and will not return empty. Just like this little boy who appeared to have not heard a word about his math lesson, and yet he did, so it is for our children and God’s Word in their hearts.

Father, thank you for your encouragement to train my children to know you. May your words stay with them always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Do you have a son or daughter who has turned from the Lord even after you have shared Jesus for years?

• What has been your response: feeling hope or hopeless?

Apply

• If you have small children, teach them wisdom from the Lord through songs, videos, and books and especially from the Bible. Sing along or read along with them. Pray daily for them.

• If you have older children, never miss an opportunity to give them a hug and pray over them before they leave for school or on a date. Leave Scripture love notes in their lunch boxes or backpacks or by text on their cell phones. Pray daily for them.

Power 

• Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

• Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

• Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV) “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Remember When. . .

  

“Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles,

and the judgments he pronounced. . .”

Psalm 105:5 (NIV)

 

My four-year-old grandson looked at me with big brown, very serious eyes the other day and, taking a big breath, said “Grandma, remember when I was a little boy and we were at the fair and I said I was scared and I wasn’t going to ride the dragon but you said it would be okay and you would pray for me and just to try it and then I did and now I can ride the dragon and I’m not scared anymore – remember Grandma?”

 

 I smiled and said, “Yes, I remember.” “Well,” he continued, “could you pray that I get a new bow and arrows?” I hugged him and said, “You bet I will.” But at the same time, I was struck by the realization that a four-year-old remembered an event from a year ago and believed that what happened then – prayer – could help him now.

 

“Remember when. . .” What a beautiful concept and, I believe, a concept that originated with God. David wrote in Psalm 111:4 “He has caused his wonders to be remembered . . .” But why? Why remember the past? Because we are encouraged, and our faith is strengthened by those who faced what we now face and succeeded or held on or made it through or failed but kept on trying.

 

Also, we are encouraged by what He has done in our lives in the past and how He has helped us get through whatever we faced. There is security in knowing that our Father, Who has taken care of us in the past, will also take care of us now. We need to look at the past so we will trust the future.

 

Remembering a time when a family member was sick and was healed gives me strength when I face an illness today. Remembering months without a steady paycheck and yet food miraculously appearing at my door gives me a renewed trust in Him to provide for my needs. Remembering a loved one who finally gave his life to the Lord after years of prayer gives me hope as I witness to a friend tomorrow.

 

I remember when a little boy was afraid of a dragon ride, and I prayed. And because I remember God’s faithfulness, I will pray for a bow and arrows, too.

 

Father, thank you for your wonders and miracles recorded in the Bible to encourage us to trust you with the future. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

 

Reflect

• Do you sometimes have trouble remembering answered prayers in the past because your focus is on the current problem or situation?

 

• Do you respond to problems with panic in the present or peace because of God’s answers in the past?

 

Apply

• Keep a journal of each prayer request along with the date and time of that request and some space for comments.

 

• Occasionally refer to your journal and write down how God has met the need you prayed about along with the date and time.

 

Power

• Psalm 105:5 (NIV) “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced . . .”

 

• Deuteronomy 8:2 (NIV) “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”

 

• Psalm 103:2 (NIV) “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits . . .”

What Are You Waiting For?

 “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

 

I listened as the man standing beside me quietly shared what he and his children had missed out on through the years with his parents: fishing and hunting trips, evenings by the campfire listening to stories about how his parents, the grandparents, had met. The words were spoken softly but with such sadness and regret and tears: “My folks celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary . . . I can’t believe it! Where has the time gone? I’ve just been so busy . . .”

 

I couldn’t help my response. “Looking back on whatever has happened in the past can help you focus more clearly on what should happen in the future! Go talk to your folks. Make plans TODAY to take your kids to see them. Plan a fishing trip! There is still time. It’s not too late. What are you waiting for?!” He wiped his eyes and nodded in agreement. “What’s that saying? No time like the present! I don’t know what I’ve been waiting for.”

 

But here it is, 10 years after that conversation, and he has yet to take those first steps and make time so his children can see more of their grandparents. Why? In all fairness, there will always be daily events in our lives that have to be addressed, like raising children and taking them to school and sports events, and music lessons.

 

And it’s important to have careers and relax on vacations and do laundry and wash the car. But nothing – absolutely nothing – should take the place of spending one-on-one time with those we love and making memories that will last a lifetime.

 

The score of that big basketball game will probably not be important or even remembered by the next season. And if a music lesson is postponed for a week so that an overnight camping trip can take place with grandfather, father, and grandson, the loss to the music world will not be irreparable.

 

We are cautioned in James 4:14 to remember that our lives are a “mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” It reminds me of taking a breath and blowing it out on a cold winter day. You see it for just a second and it is gone. That truly is the length of our lives on this earth. Not one of us is guaranteed another day, much less another minute.

 

So where are your priorities on this beautiful day? Yes, yes, yes . . . I DO understand that you have children and a husband and commitments and a job and a lawn to mow. And I also understand that there will always be those commitments to take care of every day.

 

But, dear friends, one day it will NOT matter that your dishes are done, or your windows are cleaned or that you spent a Saturday watching television. What WILL matter is whether you took the time to visit a loved one and shared a day of just being together. Please, before it is too late, before that mist vanishes forever, make time for those you love. What are you waiting for?

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

 

Father, open my eyes to the ones I need to spend time with and help me to make time for them. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

Reflect

• Do you have a family member that you have intended to visit but have put off seeing them?

 

• What has kept you from visiting them? Is it more important than your time with those you love?

 

Apply

• Make a list of family members and friends that you have intended to visit as soon as you get other things done first.

 

• Schedule out those things that truly can wait or be postponed and schedule in time with your family and friends. Call them today.

 

Power

• Psalm 90:12 (NIV) “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

 

• James 1:10 (NIV) But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.”

 

• James 4:13-14 (NIV) “Now listen, you who say ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”