Today is a really emotional day in our family. November 21st we celebrate my brother's birthday, but unfortunately we also spend time remembering my sister, Monica, who passed away in 1986, on this day... my brother's birthday. So it's always a bitter sweet time. The whole week of Thanksgiving is, as each day brings different memories of the events after her passing. The visitors, the flowers, the food, the crying, the wake, and of course the funeral. It's funny how time, while it can dull the pain, cannot dull the memories. I can smell "funeral flowers" and be instantly transported to that funeral home, standing in front of my little baby sister's casket. I can smell smoke from a house fire, and I am instantly transported back to that time, and confronted once again with the tragic way my sister died. She would be turning 26 years old this February 21st. Her birthday is 3 days before mine. It's funny that my brother and I share the memory of her that way. On our birthdays. But sadly, for my brother, this day will always bring memories of her death. His birthday.
But you know what? God promises restoration. He's in that business. You know, the one of taking broken things and making them new again. Or giving to you in ways you can't imagine. He pours out His blessings, His favor saying,"the enemy meant this for evil. He meant to destroy you. But look what I can do!" And then He does. And there are a hundred things He has done in our family since my sister's death. Things that have brought great healing, great rejoicing, and all of us saying, "Look at what God has done!"
Well, today... He went and did it again.
This story is going to take a few twists and turns. It may not make any sense. You may be seeing, what does this or that have to do with your sister's death. But just wait... you will SEE!
Here it goes.
Our kids, like most all children, LOVE Christmas! They love everything about it. And it has been very important to us that they always are aware why Christmas is so wonderful and exciting. Christ was born! He came to this earth, from HIS THRONE, to become a man. Wow! But not just to become any man, but a sinless man, a spotless lamb, the sacrifice for our sin! Our Redeemer. Our Savior. Our entrance to the THRONE room. I want my kids to grasp that at Christmas. To look past all the twinkling lights, candy canes, and santas. To see God! So every year, we incorporate traditions and do things to keep Christ in Christmas. This year was no exception.
Last year, our Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus, that we had purchased at Walmart, had finally bit the dust. So at the end of last year, we threw it all away. Now is our dilemma for this year. Where are we going to get a Nativity? We start searching and searching. It's unbelievable actually, how many places don't sell anything for your yard that actually has anything to do with the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Don't get me wrong, we have some of those other fun things at our house and in our yard, but something that represents Christ is a must. And I call and I call. Nothing. We find a Nativity at Lowe's. It's pricey. $178 to be exact. And Scot and I both felt really convicted that God would rather have us spend that money feeding people at the Community Rescue Mission than spending it on our yard. So we passed. I saw another beautiful one at Hobby Lobby. Yeah, like $1,500 beautiful. Uh, no. The kids were becoming very disappointed and we were all very discouraged.
That night, I was in the bath finishing this amazing book on the Holy Spirit. It's called Forgotten God, by Francis Chan. It's a must read. Amazing, profound stuff. I was almost finished with it, when BAM! He starts talking about Elijah calling fire down from heaven. Remember the story? If not, go back and read about Elijah facing the prophets of Baal. Such an amazing story. Anyway, he was saying that the only difference between us and Elijah was that Elijah prayed fervently. His nature was just like ours, but he prayed fervently. Francis goes on to say in his book, that many of us do not pray fervently or courageously and we are often scared to ask God for our needs in fear that He might not show up. Wow. That hit me. Then, in a not audible voice, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "Ask Me." I was like, "really? For a nativity?" He said, "really for the Nativity." And immediately, I did what Francis had just said. I let the spirit of fear start speaking to me. Saying, "what if God doesn't give you a Nativity? What do you say to your kids then? AFTER you have prayed with them for God to provide one. And how will God even provide such a thing? How does anyone know you want one? Is someone just gonna drop one in your yard? That's such a ridiculous prayer." Finally, I told the spirit of fear where to go. And I got courageous. And I said, "ok God, you know we want to honor you. We want people to drive past our house and be reminded that we celebrate Christmas because of you. So however you want that displayed in our yard, I am asking you to provide that. Whatever that may be."
Then at lunch today, I announced to the kids that I had come up with a plan for our "yard" dilemma. Everyone knew what I meant. So discouraging I tell ya, this whole nativity thing. But everyone perks up when they hear I have a plan. I proceed to tell them what happened in my paragraph above and ask them to agree and believe with me that God will provide. They agree. Then Avery suggests we start looking in the paper. I said, "while that is a great idea, that is us doing something to provide. God has told us to ask Him to provide." We all sit in silence finishing our lunch. Each of us wondering just exactly how does God provide yard decorations.
After lunch, the kids help Scot to finish the rest of the Christmas lights. We had to take advantage of the warm weather! My parents had called and said they were coming to visit and while the kids and Scot were still outside they arrived. AND you aren't going to believe me when I tell you that they opened the back door of their truck and started unloading a NATIVITY scene for our yard, BUT that is exactly what happened. And the kids excitement was priceless. And my heart was praising God, just in awe of Him. I said, "Avery? Does God answers prayers or what?" She said, "Uh, yeah! Like instantly!" Ha! ha!
But amazingly enough, this is only half of the story.
To be continued.....
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