At A Loss for Words
As I sat preparing to write this article I was at a loss for words to pen. If you’ve been around me you know that is very unusual. I had no funny story to tell nor could I come up with anything. I began to pray and ask the Lord what did I need to say.
He clearly spoke to my heart from Ecclessiastes 3 in the Bible. In this text it tells us that there is time for everything. It reads, “there is a time to be born, a time to die, a time laugh and a time to cry.”
Then just as quick as that came to my mind, I switched to the thoughts of Christmas. My mind traveled back to my childhood days and the Christmases growing up. Then I went to my adult days as a father seeing my children each Christmas.
I also remembered my first Christmas as a young pastor. A family contacted the church and told of their need for the holidays. It was a sad story and our little country church collected a great Christmas for their kids, and food for the family.
When we delivered all the things we were told that they were going to be out of wood the next day and had no way of getting more nor did they have money to purchase gas for their heaters. The next day happened to be my day off from work, so I took my four year old son and he and I spent the day with a elderly gentleman from our church cutting and splitting fire wood.
We hauled two loads to the people’s house and they seemed to be so grateful. Later after taking my friend home, my son and I stopped at a small store to get a Coke, to our surprise the man that we had delivered all the gifts to his family was in the store purchasing a case of beer. I’m honest I wanted to give him a good old fashioned whipping. I began to think of the sacrifices people had made for his family after he had told us his sad story. Then the Holy Spirit reminded me, he wasn’t the only one we were ministering too!
His wife and kids probably would not have received a Christmas had we not reached out to them. I gave him a solemn look of disappointment and turned and walked away. Little did I know that this man was the first of many that I would face over the years to come doing the same thing.
I thank God that it did not nor has it stopped me from helping others. I could tell of many stories of how God allowed us to bring hope to a family. During this time of year I have always had a desire to give. Some time ago I realized that I didn’t always have to buy a gift. I realized that a lot of times people just need our love and time.
Even though Christmas is a joyful time to many, it is a depressing time for others. It is a time when we think of our loved ones who have passed own, and we miss them so much. Many people do not know how to handle such a time and they slip into deep depression. Oftentimes we could help them by spending time with them and talking about the loved ones that have gone on.
There are many other things that make holidays difficult and depressing to people. Let me challenge you to take time and think about those who might be in this type of situation, reach out to them with your love and time.
Perhaps you are reading this article and you find yourself depressed during this season, can I encourage you to talk to someone. Find a friend or a family member and let them comfort you during this time. If none are available call me at Shiloh Baptist Church. God Bless all!