As published in the West End Chronicle - Christmas 2005

When we think of Christmas miracles we often think of angels appearing out of nowhere to assist a needy family with food and gifts and then disappearing never to be seen again; or even the loving Hand of God reaching down to cure an incurable cancer. For some folks a Christmas miracle comes in the form of a bigger than expected Christmas bonus or finding an envelope stuffed with much needed cash. We’ve all seen the magic recreated Hollywood style in the movies; but have you ever really known about the magic that makes up a miracle?  Oh, it’s there, it really is! I know this because over the last few days I have experienced this magic that fills the air and my heart numerous times. Let me tell you about the miracle that walked through my door this morning…

Wednesday morning, while waiting on Brother Tom to send me his copy for the Christmas bulletin, I was sitting at my desk pondering thoughts of what a Christmas miracle is to me. The Lord was stirring my soul and moving me to write what was brewing in my heart. If you have ever written a story or an article you know that at times the words just don’t come easy? Some people like to call that writers block; and since the new challenge in my life is to write an article Pastor Tom doesn’t have to edit to death I was really picking my brain for a good opening.

“Lord”, I prayed. “Gimme something here, anything, just a morsel to get me started”. 

It was that very moment that  little Gracie Ottinger walked into my office with a fat white envelope in her little hand with the word “Santa” scrawled in her little handwriting.

Little Gracie came around my desk to stand next to me. For those of you who know her, Gracie has the face of a little cherub, surrounded by a halo of golden hair with the eyes of a little doe. She looks just like one of those Little Precious Moments figurines. She looked up at me with those big, brown, innocent eyes, handed me the envelope and said;

“This is for Santa, can you give it to him for me?”

“Why, sure I can sweetie. What’cha got in there?” I asked.

“A LOT of money I saved for Santa to buy toys for little kids” she replied shyly and by then the tears stung my eyes and I realized that this precious child and her gift were truly the miracle I needed to write about.

Little Gracie and I wrote a “postie” note together telling Santa that she wanted him to have it for a little girl that wouldn’t have Christmas otherwise, we stuck it to the envelope and I promised to give it to Santa that very day. Gracie skipped off to find her mom never knowing that her simple, innocent, selfless act of giving had changed the entire course of my day.

There I was wrestling the Lord for an earth moving story when in reality He only wanted me to share the simple, selfless act of a small child. Gracie didn’t want Santa to pre-qualify the recipient for the gift; she simply believed that her hard work of saving and little fortune would just find its way into the heart and hands of a little girl who had nothing. She simply believed.

Gracie’s mom, Lisa, came into my office shortly after and told me that Gracie had saved that “a lot” of money (about $6.00) from a broken piggy bank. She reminded Lisa numerous times “not to forget the money for Santa” as they prepared to come to church. Her little heart was set on getting that special gift to Santa for a needy child.

We usually apply “the faith of a child” in times of need but rarely if ever utilize the directive when giving. Little Gracie made me realize that child like faith, applied in giving is absolutely the greatest miracle we give and receive.

“Receive?” You ask. “How can I receive if I am the one giving?” It’s really quite simple, the gift of joy that floods your heart when you give is better than any material present on earth. Nothing can compare to the feeling of God’s smiles in your heart and in my opinion it is His way of letting us know He is proud of what we have done.  

Jesus said “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Luke 18:17). It is my belief that a child is a reflection of God’s heart.

The kingdom of God is built first and foremost on unconditional love. With unconditional love comes the drive to give all that our hearts can give no matter what. In relationships we often hear how someone “loved” so much they would die for the other person. When we are IN LOVE we feel the “warm fuzzies” every time we think of that special someone. When we spend a lifetime loving someone we can not bear the thought of them not being in our lives and for those who have loved someone and lost them, well, they realize that love truly is the greatest gift.

I believe the innocence of a child and their simple faith are truly the key to a lifetime of miracles. To go through life knowing Our Father will always be there to catch us when we fall, to provide for us when we lack, and to come to our rescue when we’re in danger is a wonderful gift. So, knowing that is exactly the way it is; why do we allow the enemy to poison our thoughts with doubts and lies which cause us not to trust God? I believe it is because we have lost the childlike faith we once had which allowed us to simply believe knowing that God will never let us down.

When we approach giving like a little child, like little Gracie, we shed the hesitancy and scrutiny we’ve developed in this dishonest world and simply trust Jesus will guide us in the right direction. “Here is my ‘a lot’ of “money/love/time/testimony/prayer”, stuffed into a white envelope” with the word “Jesus” written on the front. “Please give it to a person who won’t have a blessing without it.”

This Christmas I am praying a very special prayer from the very bottom of my heart, I have asked the Lord to gather up any blessings He might have in store for me and I’ve placed them in my envelope and am asking The Lord to bless my sweet husband with the answer to a very special prayer he has been praying. I pray the Lord will give him my blessings… to me, this is the greatest gift I can receive.