The Angel and the Elf

One day and angel happened upon a little elf who had a tendency to cause mischief everywhere he went. The little elf was talking to the angel and he was so excited that Christmas was coming soon. He had been busy at work helping make the toys, but Santa soon realized that he was an excitable little fellow and had a reputation of hopping from job to job, wanting to work on everything and just getting a little too excitement about the upcoming "big night." 

So Santa let the little elf head into the real world. He was telling the angel about all the wonderful things that Santa had planned for the good girls and boys on Christmas eve. He went on and on about toys and candy canes and stocking filled with goodies. Finally, the angel asked him why he thought Christmas was so special. 

The little elf quickly replied because you get presents. The angel sadly shook her head and told the little elf that Christmas is so much more about getting presents.It's about mercy and grace and peace and joy. It's about a love so great that God sent His one and only Son to be born in a lowly manger. He sent that tiny little baby into this world of sin and hatred so that the tiny little baby could grow up and tell about the love and works of God. 

God did all this knowing that one day that baby would die a violent death to save the very people who mocked Him and hurt him. But that baby did it all with great gladness, because He knew the plans God had for our lives. 

See little elf. While you are busy planning your fun and thinking about the presents you will get, God sits on his throne and remembers the night that His precious heavenly son became earthly. He remembers with fondness the sweet mother and father that watched over that precious gift and guarded it and raised it and guided it through childhood until that little tiny baby was ready to return to the throne of God where He belonged.

So enjoy your presents little elf. Enjoy the hustle and the bustle, the lights and the tinsel. For their truly is a reason to be celebrating the Christmas season. Just don't let go of what that real reason is for the celebrations that abound. 

A continuation of prayer...

Our church family lost a very dear man this week. He always had a smile and a kind word. I remember many times seeing him out at the local grocery store and his face would light up with a hello when he saw anybody he knew. He was a quiet, gentle, kind man. The type that could create calm, but you know if you ever needed anything you could ask. He and his wife are very beloved at the church. He will be missed greatly.

I think back on all the prayers that have been prayed for him and his wife during his illness. I like to think that we will all continue to pray for his wife and the family as they struggle through the days ahead to make sense of a life without him. So please keep this dear family in your prayers. 

Yesterday on Facebook, a friend of mine wrote a post that I asked her if I could share it on my blog. She gladly agreed. She said if her words could help someone else then she would have done a good deed for the day. I will call her "Jane". Jane lost one of her twin sons in September, just a few weeks short of his 21st birthday. He had battled cancer for a couple of years. He would beat it against all odds only to have it come back again with a vengeance. His twin brother did a bone marrow transplant to help prolong the young man's life. But it was not to be. He suffered great pain many times through his ordeal, yet he never gave up hope. He trusted 100% that God's will would be done. 

But despite all the marvels of modern medicine, God soon called him home. Jane has been battling daily to come to terms with her grief at losing one of her sons at such a young age to such a horrible disease. She is struggling with her pain and trusting God daily. Please keep her in your prayers. Here is her post in her own words from Facebook yesterday:

"I go to the grave almost daily. The other day someone told me when I was upset that he'snot in that grave, its just an old shell and that his spirit is in Heaven. I politely said I know but deep down I was hurting bad. But what they'd  forgotten, in their desire to be helpful was that "shell" was precious to me . I had carried that "shell" in my body. I was there when that "shell" breathed his first breath. I taught that "shell" how to walk and talk and ride a bike. I bathed that "shell". I loved the way his red hair curled and his feet were shaped like his mommy's. I stood over that "shell" in an intensive care unit for weeks. And then I watched that "shell" take his last breath and then I kissed a cold "shell" forehead before they closed his casket. I know they were trying to help but maternally and emotionally, I wanted to scream. I did everything for that precious "shell" I knew to do and it stopped breathing and its now in a grave. That hurts so bad. I love you all. Pray for us."

Her words touched my heart so much. She has been a dear friend since we were about 3 or 4 years old. It is painful to see her going through so much hurt. Yet, her faith in God remains strong. But her post made me stop and think. God answers prayers, even when they aren't the answer we want. When a loved one passes on, we must as Christian brothers and sisters continue to pray for those left behind to carry on. There ordeal is not over, it is just beginning. We mustn't forget that their pain is still here. They still face daily struggles. So let us continue to pray for those who need our prayers.