December 1999
A MOMENT WITH OUR MINISTER
My first Christmas gift for 1999 came unexpectedly, unwrapped and is unusual.
As a Pastor my goal is to drop in on each of the Women's Mission Circles. So it was not unusual to be present at the circle meeting last week.
The program was very well presented, interesting and very effective. At the close of the presentation each of us was asked to reach into a container in which were little strips of paper with a yellow smiley face, a number and a prayer request. My number was 77.
I suggested that each of us read the request which had been drawn. Various countries of our world were named in the requests with the need(s) for prayer.
Then it dawned on me. My request reminded me of how much I have to be thankful for (last month was Thanksgiving Day, remember?). My request was not only something associated with gratitude, but it was a gift. If used, as intended, it was a gift which would be with me for the entire year.
And isn't that what Christmas is all about?-giving and gifts? Indeed I had been given a gift -unsought, unexpected and unwrapped. How unique!
I want to have this gift laminated so it can more easily accompany me all during 2,000. I haven't been able to forget this, what appeared to be, a simple gift. It has already become a part of me. And isn't that one of the hopes for gifts we give at Christmas?
Thank you, ladies, for this wonderful gift. I won't forget it.
Oh yes, this is how the gift reads: "UMC (United Methodist Church) Work with visually-impaired students Murewa & Mutambara, Zimbabwe."
This Christmas the lights and decorations of Christmas are made more meaningful to me because of this unique gift. What if I were visually-impaired? What if I had to miss all of the beauty of Christmas decorations? What if I couldn't see clearly the beautifully wrapped gifts? What if I couldn't see the beauty of Christmas snow? The gaily decorated Christmas tree?
I wonder what kind of unique gift you will receive this Christmas. My hope and prayer is it will be the kind of gift that will outlast Christmas and will stay with you all year.
My prayer and wish for you and yours is that you will have a blessed Christian Christmas and receive at least one lasting gift.
your friend and Pastor, John
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