The Easter Chicks rolled into the Christmas Season with a full calendar of plans to celebrate the wonderful birth of our Savior. With my Bible study drawn to a close, our first semester of homeschooling nearly complete and the Christmas cards in the mail, I actually found time today to write words for a blog. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to describe our day yesterday. Not because I wanted to boast about our life, but instead I wanted to boast about my Jesus.
What a season, what a day. We began yesterday serving in a local ministry called Toystore. This is a ministry through the Bledsoe Baptist Association where parents who have fallen on difficult times are allowed to come and shop for their children for Christmas. These parents are open to the love of the volunteers, the opportunity to secure toys and such for their children and the message of Christ’s love and forgiveness. I have worked in this ministry before by myself, but yesterday was the first time I worked with my girls. Sometimes I sit day in and day out wondering if I’m getting through to my girls as to what it means to love and serve Jesus. Yesterday I realized they have learned more than I ever imagined.
Both my girls eagerly greeted complete strangers with warm smiles and loving hearts. They encouraged each parent as to what their age of child might like, and they also carried each item in large heavy garbage bags to the end of the shopping experience. They gave warm hugs and wished each parent a Merry Christmas. There was no fear and no barriers due to nationality or socioeconomic level, just two young girls loving and being Jesus to another. A parent could never be as proud as I was.
We praised God as we left, making plans to return the following year and do even more to help.
Our next destination was not something I was looking greatly forward to. Both my girls wanted to attend the Toby Mac Winter Wonderslam in downtown. This meant for me downtown traffic, cold temperatures which I hate and a late night out. For someone who likes to be in bed by 9pm, this was torture. But when my oldest won two tickets for the concert, I realized it was a divine appointment for the Easter Chicks. And divine it was.
We decided to get into downtown early to have a bite of dinner before the concert at one of our favorite locations, the Spaghetti Factory. When we arrived around 5pm, I noticed traffic was unusually thick with major downtown roads being closed. But even in the thick traffic, Jesus found us a very close parking area to the Sommet Center. Still wondering what was up, I inquired with a local merchant as to what was going on. He told me the annual Christmas parade was planned to begin at 7pm. With those words, I became very discouraged realizing there was no way we would have time to eat dinner at the Spaghetti Factory with what was inevitably going to be a long wait due to the crowds. After a brisk walk in falling temps, we arrived for dinner. The lobby was jam packed with people sitting in every seat in the waiting area and standing in every corner. We proceeded to the hostess stand and were told our wait would be 40 minutes, a time we did not have. Then out of the blue an angel (ok another hostess, but an angel to us) walked behind the lead hostess and asked how many was in our party. When he heard three, he said, “I can take them now. Right this way.” I nearly started screaming in raucous amazement, but I decided it might not be wise when I saw the inquiring faces of those behind and around us. Our dinner was delicious and delightful and provided for us ample time to return before the concert.
Remember my oldest had only won two tickets, one for her and one for her sister. I had to secure the third for our group and did my best to get as close as I could to my girls. But God didn’t want me to just be close. When the concert began, he provided two open seats right in front of the girls, so I was able to be right with them. He certainly was ever in each detail of the evening.
The concert proved to be exceptional, not just the music but the message. I sat and watched over 9000 students, parents and youth leaders give their greatest applause of the evening when it was shared that Jesus is our greatest gift of Christmas. Toby Mac lives true to the words of his music, he is a Jesus freak. He energized and encouraged each student to follow in his footsteps to love Jesus and follow him with their whole heart. Toby jumped (literally) into the audience and became a part of the crowd sharing his heart for Jesus. My youngest is still ecstatic over touching Toby’s back as he passed by. He lead the audience in an honest and humble prayer for direction for their lives. Hearts were inspired and Jesus was praised. 9000 Jesus freaks praised their God and Savior.
Each year since Scott’s homegoing, God has made a special point of offering me an extraordinary gift during the holiday season. Yesterday was my special gift sent from heaven above. We were allowed to lavish love on many. Then God escorted us downtown and safely parked the car as any gentleman would. He provided the most special dinner in impossible circumstances, and then he allowed my eyes to see wonders unimaginable in the hearts of many. A day and night that had God’s handprints all over it for his little princesses. What a Father, what a Husband, and what a King we serve. May you be encouraged to love him and serve him this season. ME