Last month just as we were closing the exchanges I got a text from a pastor in Arizona, one we work with every year. I've never met him but we've become friends as we share some interests outside of Christmas and Santa's Sleigh. Good dude.
His text was simple - he provided a name and address and just added "Christmas Cheer". That was it, but I knew exactly what he meant. I trust him, I added the name and didn't think twice about any of it. Until last night.
He told me the story of his congregation and the good work they do for those they serve with their own version of Santa's Sleigh. He usually hits me up once a year but this year they handled things, other than the name he sent me. He told me about their organizing efforts with a "committee", who decided not to include cards, gift wrapping and a few other incidentals in order to save money.
One they were trying to help was a young widow, who has two children, ages 4 and 7. The church there has been helping them for about 18 months and it's been a very tough thing for this now single mom. But she showed up to church last week for the first time since her husband passed away. My friend considers that a miracle after all she has been through and all the church there has tried to help her.
My friend was aghast after one of his members asked this young widow why now, after all this time, she finally came to church but he couldn't help smiling at her answer. She said "43 cards - and they keep coming." Later when he talked to her she said all the cards from Operation Christmas Cheer taught her that if all these strangers could send her and her children Christmas cards then God must still have enough good people in the world and that she needed to become one of them. Out of everything, those cards made her Christmas.
My friend, in jest, asked me, "How do I make my church more like the church you're running on My Merry Christmas"?
I cannot thank those enough who are part of the exchange and beyond who remember those on the Operation Christmas Cheer list. I've seen to many times the good things it does and stories like this just make it more true.
There is so much suffering right now and nothing we can do can solve it. But we can help each other. We can share love. We can mourn with those who mourn. We can do the simple things to help others.
You're doing it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
His text was simple - he provided a name and address and just added "Christmas Cheer". That was it, but I knew exactly what he meant. I trust him, I added the name and didn't think twice about any of it. Until last night.
He told me the story of his congregation and the good work they do for those they serve with their own version of Santa's Sleigh. He usually hits me up once a year but this year they handled things, other than the name he sent me. He told me about their organizing efforts with a "committee", who decided not to include cards, gift wrapping and a few other incidentals in order to save money.
One they were trying to help was a young widow, who has two children, ages 4 and 7. The church there has been helping them for about 18 months and it's been a very tough thing for this now single mom. But she showed up to church last week for the first time since her husband passed away. My friend considers that a miracle after all she has been through and all the church there has tried to help her.
My friend was aghast after one of his members asked this young widow why now, after all this time, she finally came to church but he couldn't help smiling at her answer. She said "43 cards - and they keep coming." Later when he talked to her she said all the cards from Operation Christmas Cheer taught her that if all these strangers could send her and her children Christmas cards then God must still have enough good people in the world and that she needed to become one of them. Out of everything, those cards made her Christmas.
My friend, in jest, asked me, "How do I make my church more like the church you're running on My Merry Christmas"?
I cannot thank those enough who are part of the exchange and beyond who remember those on the Operation Christmas Cheer list. I've seen to many times the good things it does and stories like this just make it more true.
There is so much suffering right now and nothing we can do can solve it. But we can help each other. We can share love. We can mourn with those who mourn. We can do the simple things to help others.
You're doing it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
