Last Christmas
What a difference a year makes.
Last Christmas, we were eight months into unemployment, living on my retirement savings. We were on a restricted budget to stretch our resources as long as possible. In many ways, it could have been a season marked by how poor we suddenly found ourselves, full of disappointment with the awareness of what we didn’t have.
It turned out to be one of the most special Christmases our family ever experienced.
We shopped for Christmas presents for one another from the Dollar Store. That’s not a joke or a typo. We combed that store’s aisles for meaningful presents for one another and thought of creative ways to express our love for one another through these inexpensive items. Our children never complained and jumped right in to the spirit of the opportunity, raising our joy in the process. When the gifts were later exchanged, the time was marked by laughter and sincere appreciation for the thoughtfulness and consideration that went in to each and every gift selection.
We worshipped at Prestonwood Baptist church. We were without a church home since being laid off the April prior. We had “settled in” at Valley Creek church in Flower Mound - a great church that we love. But we had decided that we wanted to go to Prestonwood for Christmas worship. There, we were blessed by the worship, especially by the singing of Holly Knight, who we have known from our days back in Colorado when Kelli had babysat Holly as a child. The church gave away hundreds of Nativity sets to children, and Kelsi brought one home as an unexpected, precious gift.
We were also blessed by dear friends from Grapevine who surprised us with a large bag full of Christmas gifts…for the entire family. Every gift was a treasure. We were overwhelmed by the love expressed by the selfless, generous presents given to each of us. I never felt more like George Bailey than that day - rich beyond measure because of the kindness and love of friends.
A year later, so much has changed. We live a thousand miles to the west in a suburban community where 83% of the population is unchurched. We are part of a thriving church where I am honored to serve as the pastor of local outreach. God has knit our hearts with many people and we’re making new friends. Our children are thriving and finding their place in God’s work here. While it will take years to financially “recover” from the extended unemployment, we are in a much better place, economically speaking. We shopped at “regular” stores. We didn’t “go crazy,” but we were able to buy our children multiple gifts. In most ways, it was back to “Christmas as usual.”
Except that last night, at the end of the Christmas Eve, before Kelli put on her kerchief and I my cap…we spent time talking as a family about the year between last Christmas and this. We reflected on God’s goodness, on his faithfulness, on his provision, on his love and care and keeping. We worshipped him as a family in prayers of adoration, thanksgiving, requests, and praise.
From time to time, in response to good news, we hear people say, “God is good!” I agree. It’s true. What we learned, though, in this past year, is the first-hand experience of what we already knew to be true: In the “bad times” too, God is good. God was good in bringing to an end our time in Texas…though we wouldn’t have asked for it. God was good in drawing us into an extended time of waiting…though we never would have asked for it. He grew our faith and drew us close to another and to himself. God was good in every door he closed and every opportunity he gave to someone else….though I often begged for it not be so. He brought me (and all of us) to a dependence and trust in him that is more valuable than anything available for purchase at a store…and more fulfilling than any job title.
God didn’t give us patience. He gave us a situation that required patience. We had nothing but God. We had no choice but to trust him. The only thing that we had was the faith that he had given us. We held on to that faith, and accordingly, on to him, with all that we had within us. That faith was his gift to us…and he gave it to us to carry us because he is good.
This year, we know no fewer than 4 families who are today where we were last year, financially speaking. We know of dear friends who are hurting this Christmas. I pray for you daily, asking God to bring you through your pain, through your waiting, through your season of need. I also ask God to be real to you in these days, that he draws you near and that in these days that could be seen as “bad,” you will experience first-hand that God is good.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:4-7)
