They go together, you know. comfort and joy. They do at our house this year, especially. I want to tell you a little story, mostly because its pretty much all I’ve been able to think about. It probably won’t be that big of a deal to you. In fact, it is likely that you won’t find it too interesting. And that is a bit unfortunate, since normally I like for my blog to be interesting to more people than just me.
Still, I’m compelled. This is the story of how I found a tiny bit of Comfort and Joy this advent season.
It all began several years ago when my husband came home during the Christmas season and told me about the Advent Conspiracy. We knew we wanted to change how we viewed the birth of Christ. But we didn’t know how. We wanted to give meaningful gifts. And we wanted our gaze to focus on Him through all of the celebrating.
This part of my story is really uncomfortable, but it is unavoidable. Its the presents. I love giving presents. I love getting presents. But for the last few years it all has felt completely unreasonable. How much stuff does one family need? And – why should I get so much, in the name of celebrating Jesus’ birthday? Those were two questions that kept nagging at me, making me completely uncomfortable. “That’s the way we’ve always done it.” Was not a good enough answer anymore.
Deep down in my heart of hearts I knew something was missing.
This year as the planning began, the gift lists grew long, and I felt the desire to make a more concerted effort to change the mode of gift giving. I wanted to find a way to make things different. And truly, this is complicated to explain, but ultimately it all happened one evening.
I was sitting on my living room couch in the peace, with very quiet Christmas music playing, the tree’s lights were lit and I was reflecting on what I might need to put on a Christmas list – for grandparents who were hoping for ideas of what to give as gifts. As I scrolled across different websites, page after page of unnecessary stuff, things that I knew would not bring true joy, my fingers sped me along to a website that changed my perspective.
Do you know what happened? I realized something wasn’t missing from my Christmas lists. Someone was missing.
What website had I come across? Samaritan’s Purse. There I found some items on Jesus’ Wish List. As I read the items I wept. I mean, what was I thinking? How can I possibly think I need new stuff for my kitchen, when feeding starving children is one of the items on His list? There’s a family hoping for warm blankets on His list, while I’m debating if I’d like a new duvet cover…
I tried to wrap my brain around what I was seeing. And I realized this: all this time, through all these Christmases past, I believed I should give to others with joy, because He brought us joy when He came to earth as a baby. He gave a big gift, so we should do the same. And in one way that is partly true. But, it seems that my heart will find true joy when I give the biggest gifts to Him.
So, we made the lists, and we checked them twice. I wanted to be sure that we were giving to Jesus first and foremost. Christmas is His birthday and I wanted to figure out how to give Him the best gifts. I left the Samaritan’s Purse website and went over to Compassion International.
I thought I knew what needed to be done, but I was completely unprepared.
Slowly I perused the lists that were there. Name upon name, face after face ; children needing families to care for them, hoping for someone to choose them to be sponsored. I closed my laptop and let the tears flow. and how they flowed. So many little ones living in desperate need.
“Whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto me…”
Jesus asks in Scripture clearly for us to care for the fatherless, the widows – to feed the hungry and clothe the poor. This is what is on His list. When I choose to give to them, I’m giving to Him.
I felt it happening. His list was becoming my list.
I opened my laptop again and began to search the names and faces. And there she was, just the second page back on the list. Her big dark eyes looked back at me. She lives in Ghana – and she had been waiting for a sponsor for quite some time. As I read her name, my heart leapt with joy and new she was the one.
This year the biggest gift under our tree is for Jesus, and her name is Comfort. And now, Comfort is loved by the Day family. These are true gifts of Christmas joy – and I can’t tell you how remarkable it all is. My heart is so full, I can hardly stand it. It is exactly what has been missing from our Christmases past.
Comfort. and Joy.
Heavenly Father, Help me to find new and fresh ways to celebrate Jesus’ birthday this Christmas. May I find this joy and comfort You have given, the most satisfying gifts of all. amen
daily portion 