A Most Blessed Christmas for All
by Debbie GuinnJoy in the Furnace
“Dear children, don't just talk about love. Put your love into action. Then it will truly be love.” 1 John 3:18 (NIRV)
Being the single mother of three teenage girls is difficult and being on disability, due to blindness resulting from Multiple Sclerosis, makes not only paying bills difficult, but made buying Christmas presents this year impossible. My girls took it well when I told them we would not have enough money for presents and we all agreed—and were content—to shift our focus from presents to the true meaning of Christmas…the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Little did I know that across town the Martins were teaching their four children about the importance of giving to those less fortunate than themselves. Having saved one third of the money they earned by doing chores this past year, the children had decided to give it to someone in need at Christmas.
A local radio station had a Christmas Wish contest to help those in need and unbeknownst to me, Suzanne , a precious sixteen-year-old friend, had entered my family and me into the contest. Although we did not win the contest, the Martin family had gone to the radio station to look through the contestants for a family to bless with the money they had saved. As they looked through the entries, the middle son felt a tug on his heart when he read the entry submitted by Suzanne . The family agreed that they should choose me to bless this year.
On December 23rd, I received a phone call informing me about Suzanne ’s Christmas Wish and the Martin ’s desire to help us. I was speechless! The Martin family came to our house on Christmas Eve, bringing the money that they had saved. It wasn’t in a check; it wasn’t even a rounded off amount. It was every wrinkled, crumpled dollar that they had saved taken straight from their piggy banks…given from the unselfish hearts of children who wanted to bless us this Christmas.
God impressed our precious friend to nominate me...and she did. God impressed that little boy to choose me...and his family did. In return, God blessed my girls and me beyond words. I am almost certain that He blessed the Martins and Suzanne too…and Christmas took on new meaning for everyone.
A Most Blessed Christmas for All © Debbie Guinn
Article submitted Tuesday, December 22, 2009 & read 201 times.
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» left by Teresa(1,457)(258 days ago.)
Hi Debbie, thank you for sharing this encouraging story. What a lesson in trust and in what we should be teaching our children about giving. Praise God for his incredible wisdom and grace! Merry Christmas! Hugs, TeresaI will be ordering your study soon. I just have some other issues to clear up first. I am looking forward to it. I am always blessed by what you share.
» left by Marijo Phelps(233)(255 days 3 hours ago.)
Great story (behind the scenes) God is SO good! Marijo
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