Last year at Christmas, a friend at West Clinic asked me about ‘adopting’ children and young people from the neighborhood where my husband and I were ministering. That is when the Christmas miracle started. The miracle was born in one generous, loving heart, and it quickly spread to others who had the same amazing hearts of love. West Clinic employees adopted about thirty-three children. What a wonderful staff! Given only first names and ages, these generous souls bought gifts for children they had never met: extravagant gifts, extraordinary love.
When the day of gift delivery arrived, employees helped load the packages they had bought. As the bed of the pick-up began to fill with gifts, teary-eyed employees alternately laughed and cried in joyous anticipation of the blessing these Christmas gifts would bring to dozens of children. My husband and I completed the deliveries that the employees and I didn’t have time to finish during the day. And as we went out, it was as if all the neighborhood was bright with light. It was the Christ Light! On that dark and drizzly night, adults and children came out of their homes to speak to us and to one another. It was an impromptu Christmas party of sorts: people meeting in the streets, hugging and laughing and calling out, ‘thank you!’
That night gave us a stunning picture of the love of God. Because my friends at the clinic said ‘yes!’ to Love, Love was multiplied in a million ways. I shall never forget that night. My husband called the experience a ‘Christmas miracle.’
May we look for opportunities to share God’s generous, extravagant love every day of our lives. In God’s economy, every day has the potential to reveal a Christmas miracle. Get ready! The love of Christ. The power of the Holy Spirit. We have experienced Christ’s redeeming love, shattering darkness and bringing light, and we persevere in prayer until the power of His love breaks every chain.
Right now we are prayerfully anticipating December 13th, when other friends of TMC– primarily from Maples UMC, but also others from Getwell Road UMC– are bringing gifts for the children, youth, and families in the neighborhood where we serve. This year over 80 individuals will be touched by this outpouring of love! Please remember us in prayer as we gather with the residents on the 13th to share the story of Jesus’ birth, to sing (with candles brightly burning!), and to share the good news of great joy: a Savior has come out of love for them! Many of the people who ‘adopted’ the children and families are not only purchasing gifts and praying for those whose names they chose; they are also coming to deliver the gifts themselves, to sing and to light their candles as a sign of His love. We are expecting another Christmas miracle!
“Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee…. Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King; born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.” (Charles Wesley, 1707-1788)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…” John 3:16