A word spoken at the right moment,
How good it is!
Like a custom-made piece of jewelry.
Proverbs 15:23 and 25:11
Words of Joy
(Luke 2:1-7) Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem in order to be counted in the census. While they were there, our Lord had a very humble entrance into this world. He was born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and placed in a manger; because there was no room to stay at the inn. Let’s read our third Christmas script and light our third candle, the candle of JOY.
Third Christmas Script
Narrator: A single mother and her 4-year-old daughter left California by bus and arrived in Albuquerque on Christmas Eve. She just lost her job in California, and due to her dire financial circumstances, she has used the last of her meager funds to get this far. They arrived in Albuquerque too late to check into a shelter for the night. It is bitterly cold. They are headed to Memphis, hoping that her parents there will have pity on them and take them in. At the same time, a woman of considerable means rushes out to do come last minute Christmas shopping.
Shopper: (Thinking to herself) Can’t believe that I forgot that Cashmere sweater for Uncle Marc. Thank goodness Walmart is still open. Maybe I can find something that will suffice. All of the stores will be closed tomorrow.
Mother: (Speaking to her child) Sweetie, please don’t cry. I know it’s cold, and I know you’re hungry, but you’re going to have to be brave tonight. We will have to find somewhere safe where we can be sheltered for the night. I promise when we stop walking, we will snuggle and get warm and toasty. I still have one candy bar left. It will be our Christmas dinner. If my prayer is answered, we will find our way to Memphis and Grandma will take us in and feed us an amazing Christmas dinner with all the fixings.
Shopper: I had better check my list and make sure that I haven’t forgotten something. Why does this always fall on me every holiday. You would think that someone else in the family would offer some help. Let’s see… Tree up and decorated…check. House spotless…check. Gifts wrapped…oh no; I still have more to wrap. I wonder why I even take time to wrap them. The grandkids rip into their gifts so quickly and hardly seem to appreciate all my hard work in finding just the right gifts for each of them.
Narrator: The shopper passes up the mother and child shivering on the street corner. She hears the child’s cries and the mother’s effort to comfort her. The shopper takes a few more steps toward her Mercedes and then stops dead in her tracks. The Holy Spirit was knocking hard on the heart of her soul, and she is overwhelmed with compassion. She turns around and approaches the pair.
Shopper: Excuse me. I don’t mean to interfere, but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation with your daughter. Can I help in any way?
Mother: Oh, no ma'am. We’ll be fine.
Narrator: The shopper breaks down in tears, and then the mother breaks down in tears.
Mother: (Crying) Who am I kidding. I used the last of my money for bus fare to get us this far, but the shelter was full, and we got here too late to get in. What are we going to do?
Shopper: I’ll tell you what you are going to do… you are going home with me to celebrate Christmas with me and my family and then spend the night in a warm bed. And… tomorrow we’ll make sure that the two of you get to Memphis, even if I have to drive you myself.
Question and Comments
What do you think this means, “but for the Grace of God, go I?”
God promises that if we call on him, he will answer us and be with us through the tough times in our lives. (Psalm 94:15) I have heard that the letters in JOY could easily stand for Jesus-Others-Yourself. But, let’s be honest; we tend to put ourselves first, survival of the fittest, right? It’s so easy to love those who love you, but what about those we either deem unworthy or see as unlovable? “But whoever sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17) Ouch! We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the pain of others. We have a Savior who never turned a blind eye, and he lives in us and lives his life through us. Scripture says that it was his joy to suffer the cross; our great need to be reconciled with the Father was more important to him than his own life. “The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34: 17-18)
Words of Blessing
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
John 13:34
“Whenever a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.”
John 16:21
“But God demonstrates his love toward us, in that while we yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
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