It’s Not About Me…

It was about 14 years ago, maybe 13.  Robby was only 8 or 9 years old and although I don’t remember exactly which year it was, I certainly remember that Christmas as, by far, the best Christmas in my lifetime.  I have no idea what I got for Christmas, nor what we got for the kids (we only had two at the time), nor do I remember hardly any other details of what was going on in “my” life during that Christmas season, but I remember her face, like it was yesterday.  Who is she?  Somehow we had met a woman who was homeless.  She lived in a motel with her son, who was about Robby’s age at the time.  She also had an older child, whom we never had the privilege of actually meeting.  She looked the part, scraggly hair, worn clothes that just hung off of her tiny frame as if they were two sizes too big, and a raspy voice and skin that made her look much older then her years. Her son, I remember the first time I saw him.  My heart broke.  He looked sad… very sad.

God stepped into our hearts that year and for once, we actually listened to Him.  He told us to do something.  Anything, just do SOMETHING.  Well we did.  We knew that they did not have much food, had no presents to put under the tree…  well, they didn’t even HAVE a Christmas tree!  We also knew that the boy really wanted a bike for Christmas, and the mom was very sad, knowing that their basic needs were barely being met, there was certainly no possibility of him getting his “Christmas wish.”

We didn’t have much money ourselves, so Greg shared their story with his co-workers at the time who donated money for the family. We didn’t just buy some stuff to drop off at their doorstep.  We visited them, at their motel on more than one occasion in the days leading up to Christmas.  We gave them Christmas presents, brought them bags of groceries, presented them with some basic necessities, and the most fun was when we took them a real live Christmas tree, along with some lights and decorations!  They were so overwhelmed.  We were so overjoyed!

Then something happened a mom will never forget. Neither me, nor her.   My son, Robby, decided to give his very own bike to her son.  Not only did I not suggest this, I even tried to talk him out of it!  I told him we could not afford to get him another bike anytime soon.  He was adamant.  In his mind, and in his heart it was the “right” thing to do.  There was no swaying him.  His mind was made up.  I will never ever forget it when Robby and I stood there, in the parking lot of that motel, watching that little boy ride his “new” bike weaving in and out of the concrete curb thingies that were in the front of each parking space.  Nor will I forget the look of pure joy and relief on his mom’s face.  But what I remember the most is the look of pride (well-deserved pride!) and confidence on my Robby’s face.    He KNEW he had done the right thing.  And he felt so good about it!   It seemed that he was just as happy, if not happier than the little boy riding his bike all through the parking lot.

Much to his delight and surprise, Robby himself ended up getting a brand new bike for Christmas that year.  He truly deserved it.  He gave his bike away expecting nothing in return, but he ended up getting a new, better bike then what he gave away.  There’s a another lesson all wrapped up in that alone.  God will always bless us when we step out and obey him.  His blessings are better then what we can provide for ourselves, better even than what we can even think or imagine.  Wow.

What are we going to do this year?  I want another year like that.  I am trying, so hard, to just listen.  I want my younger kids, still living at home to have an experience like that.  Fact is, we are so busy and caught up in our own lives, during this precious Christmas season which is supposed to be about Christ, God with us - coming here - to live among mere men, but we, those He came to with a desire to be with, are more often than not too busy with our own agenda ringing so loud in our ears, to even hear His still small voice.  God is always in our lives, in our thoughts, prompting us and nudging us.  That year, we actually listened.  This year I want to slow down enough to hear His voice again.  I want to stop the meaningless activity.  I want to listen, again.  Shhhh…..  Do you hear something?