I have this friend who is always
thinking of ways to make me to step out of my comfort zone. She is
bold and loves Jesus and quite naturally comes up with ideas to serve
God and others. About 4 years ago, or more, she decided our
home school co-op needed to go caroling. My first thought was,
“People still do that?” and my second thought was, “AWK-ward”
But just like everything else she dreams up, I went along with it, and even agreed to go in my families neighborhood, where people know me.
I was nervous. After all, there is a
war on Christmas, right? I mean, if you watch the news, they would
have you believe that 90% of people in this world are horribly
offended by all things Christian, and especially Christmas. So what,
pray tell, would we encounter? Would they slam the door in our faces?
Call the cops? Throw eggs? I steadied myself for the worst and held
on to the thought of hot chocolate with friends when it was all
over. Between our four families we had about 12 kids. So we bundled
them up and headed out.
As we approached the first house, I
still couldn't believe we were about to sing on someones door step.
And yet with all my preconceived notions, nothing could have prepared
me for what happened next. House after house we got such similar
reactions. First there was shock. I mean, think about it. When is the
last time someone showed up on your door step to sing to you? I can
tell you with certainty that I have no recollection of this ever
happening to me!
Next came the smiles. These huge soul moving smiles
that came from a place of hope and love. Then there were thank you's.
Repeated and heart felt thank yous. Many joined in song with us, and
some even responded with tears. I don't know where those tears came
from, whether loss or nostalgia, but they were way more beautiful
than what I ever imagined our little singing troupe would see.
This year we were at it again. Yet this
Christmas, our family is in a different place in life. My husband
Paul is now the pastor at Calvary Chapel Midtown, a regional campus,
near Fort Lauderdale, a little ways away from where we normally go
caroling. Yet despite the distance, instead of going to one of our
own families neighborhoods, our sweet friends decided that they would
like to make the trek with us to a neighborhood near our new
church to invite those neighbors to our very first Christmas service. I knew
that we had had great responses in years past, but Fort Lauderdale? Or
more specifically, Wilton Manors? That would likely be different.
Surely they would balk at our lyrics of silent nights and angels
singing? I mean, this is offensive stuff people! There is no way
that they would tolerate our songs to a newborn king.
And they didn't. Tolerate it, that is.
They embraced it! The first house was a sweet lady and her ninety
year old mother. Upon hearing why we were there, they came outside and sat down in their wicker chairs to
get comfortable as they soaked it all in,
smiling from ear to ear. They joined in singing, eyes brimming with
tears. Our first song, she told us, was her late fathers absolute favorite. House after house we were received and welcomed with love.
There were more tears. So many thank yous. And one sweet lady was
noticeably overcome with total shock that we were doing this, this small
thing.”But it's just me here” she explained, sure we needed a bigger
audience. Oh and the silly little candy canes we handed out garnered
even more gratitude.
I need you to know, however, that this
is not me saying “Wow, we changed the world tonight with our humble
hearts and awesome vocals. Aren't we great?” No, not one bit.
Especially because our hearts are likely not very humble, and our
voices certainly not great.....except the kids. Oh man they are
adorable and cute!! But I digress...This is not about what we did.
This is about what HE did. The reason I am sharing this is in the hope
of reminding you that our world actually really needs
more of Jesus. But not only do they need Jesus, a staggeringly large number actually really wants more of Him..Even though we are being told that nobody wants
Him anymore, and even though a select, albeit noisy, few tell us that
His words are offensive and His truths un-welcome, it is often not
the reaction we get when we approach with love! This world is hungry
for Emmanuel, God with us. I
am so thankful for the boldness of friends, who encourage us along,
year after year, to share the love of Jesus, invite a stranger to
church, and watch the world change from the inside out.
Let's pray together for more sweet
divine appointments as Christmas draws near. Let's pray for boldness
and wisdom with our words everywhere we go!
Pray also for me, that
whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly
make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in
chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians
6:19
Amen!!
