The Second Gift of Christmas

Yesterday, after a very long day (which was preceeded by a very long week and a very long season of ministry), before turning in for the night, I decided to check my voicemail here at the church office. I had been in and out all day at various meetings and appointments, and wanted to make sure that a call hadn't slipped through the cracks. Sure enough, I had one unplayed message. As I listened to it, I realized that I had just received the second official gift of this Christmas season.


I wrote earlier about the gift of a starter being installed in my car, and how meaningful it was for me that a friend would use his expertise and time, to help me in my lack of both. As I reflected on that, I considered it the first gift of the Christmas season, and felt that its example was something we all should be reminded of...that we are called to use our giftedness to help others in their need, no matter in how simple a way. This second gift, that of a voicemail message, also has a lesson for us. That is, one of the best gifts that we can give during this season, is the gift of simply saying "thank you".

The woman who left the message is not a member of our church community. I met her only briefly a few years back when she helped to organize an event at the Junior High school here in town. I was asked to come and give a seminar on parenting, seminar I called "Parenting 101" and focused on acheiving wholeness in our children's lives. It seemed to be well received, and I was invited back the very next year to give the same seminar again. This woman, 3 years later, called to say "thank you" to me for that seminar. Her daughter, now in college, is doing really well, and she wanted me to know that some of the advice I had given has been very helpful in her raising her daughter to wholeness. As she sees many of her daughter's friends struggling with life and decisions, and her own daughter doing so well, she wanted me to know that I, in some way through that seminar, have played a small part in her daughter's wellness. And so, out of the blue, she called to say "thank you" and to wish me and my family a Merry Christmas.

What a joy to listen to that message! What a gift to have someone take their precious time to say "thanks" for some way that you have impacted their life for good. I pray that each of us, could pick up the phone during these few remaining days before Christmas, and make a call of "thanks" to someone who has touched us. The impact that would have on them is beyond measure, and is a true gift. And may we each, find time to pause during these last hectic days of shopping, and card sending, and wrapping, and baking, to spend time with God and to thank Him for the gift he presents to us anew this year in the manger.

The First Gift of Christmas

I received my first gift of the holiday season last week. It may not seem like much to some, but to me, it was a big deal. A huge deal. Bigger than the good friend who gave the gift realizes. On a practical level, I simply received the gift of a new car starter's installation. It saved me $200 or so that I would have had to pay the auto shop. On a deeper level, someone gave their valuable time, and used their experience and giftedness to help me and my family in a way that I just couldn't.

Twice I've tried to do work on my cars, and both times they ended in disasters. The first time, many years ago, I just tried to do my own oil change. A simple procedure. But, one turn too tight on the filter, and then again on the oil pan screw, and I was paying the shop to change my oil, and fix the stuff I broke. A couple of years later, I decided to flush and change my anti-freeze. Again, a simply procedure. An hour later, I had broken off some part, stripped the threads on a valve, and dropped a nut down into the radiator. The shop was happy to see me. Since then, autos has joined electricity as the areas I'd prefer to pay someone to help me with.

And so a couple of weeks ago, the car started having difficulty starting up. The battery was good (and although I don't like to work on cars, I at least know some stuff about them), so I knew there was a good chance it was the starter. I banged on it with a screwdriver (it actually helps), but I could tell from the sounds it made that it needed to be replaced. The thought of paying money for a starter and installation at this time of year, and into a van that is now approaching 8 years old just plain stunk. More than that, it was a bit depressing.

But my friend Nick overheard Ann and I talking about it one Sunday after church, and volunteered to fix it. I know Nick well. I've learned that when Nick says he'll take care of it, it means he'll take care of it. So I said, "Thanks." And last Wednesday, on a very cold and windy day, Nick crawled under my minivan, pulled out the old starter, and installed the new one that I had picked up at the auto parts store. He lost some skin on his knuckles, as is always the case when you work on cars. He found a few other things that needed attention (and took care of them). He even filled my windshield wiper fluid. The van has been perfect since he finished.

He installed a starter. No big deal? Just a couple of bucks savings? Or a perfect example of how we can use our gifts to help others in their need?