"So......I have this crazy idea." I said to Dan in the middle of the night the other night. That's mostly the time of day I wait to tell him my crazy ideas. He loves it. In fact he usually says, "Why do you wait until the middle of the night to tell me these things???!"That's how I know he likes it....
I wait, because I have his full attention, and he can't get away. And if he tells me my idea is crazy, it's easier to take in the dark. And I do have some crazy ones, that's why God gave me such a level headed husband.
He finally gave in. "What's your idea?" he bravely asked me. "I think we should drive to Galloway, TN this weekend and help the missionaries there with the Christmas store." I replied. Silence. I quickly started making my case, "They sent out an email that they really need help this year, and we've always said we wanted to take the kids and do something for others for Christmas, and we said some day we'd go over there, and ......I know it's crazy.
To drive 10 hours (5 each way) to work for 1 day is a little bit crazy. But, then there's that young girl, Katie's her name, that traveled all the way from Tennessee to Uganda to share Jesus with so many, and stayed in Uganda because she's crazy for Jesus. And then there's that amazing God baby that traveled through eternity to earth on that Christmas night. Just. For. Me.
Maybe it's not so crazy.
But then I tell myself,
This is the last weekend before Christmas, there's so much to do, shopping, baking, presents to wrap, people to see....and the kids haven't even been to see Santa yet.....
No, they haven't seen Santa yet, but in Galloway they will see Jesus. I know. I've been there, and I've seen Him. Amongst the dirt, poverty, drugs, and kids no one but the missionaries care about, He's there. He's working. He's real.
One of these days, the kids will all know the "truth" about Santa anyway, and there will be disappointment. I saw the sad eyes when my daughter found out the stories weren't true. But then there's that other story. You know the one about that miracle baby, Jesus, that Christmas is really all about? He's real, He is truth. That God baby, that Giver of good gifts? He won't disappoint. He is still alive and still giving His gifts over 2000 years later.
And we can help Him. We can be Jesus on earth. There are so many little children in Galloway, TN who wouldn't receive a thing on Christmas Day if it weren't for the missionaries living in that little town. Those kids already know Santa's only a story. But those missionaries are showing them that Jesus of Christmas is real and He cares about a little thing like a Christmas gift. And those missionaries, they need help. They are there working tirelessly 365 days a year, and they need help here in their busiest time of year. They need help enough they are asking for it.
Can we leave the hustle and bustle and last minute shopping to take our kids on a Jesus errand? Can we stop putting an abundance under our tree for a minute to put something under someone else's? Can we teach our children that life is not all about them this Christmas? Can we remember that life is not all about us....
I talked myself into it. But, I went to sleep without an answer from that level headed man of mine lying next to me.
He's a good man though. He knows when an idea is just plain crazy and when an idea is Jesus crazy. I can't always tell the difference. But, he can. He called me from work the next day. I didn't say a word about it. It was too early in the day. I only talk about crazy in the middle of the night. He suddenly says into the phone, "What time do you want to leave Friday?" My heart jumped out of my chest.
Friday. Friday we will load up a sack of gifts and our little family and take them on a new adventure. My plan was to go to Branson, finish our shopping, and see a Christmas show. But a God baby, a crazy idea, and a good man changed my plan.
This Christmas, I'm thankful for a dad. A dad who's giving up time and money to make sure his children take an opportunity to serve Jesus. A dad who's doing it with them. I'm proud to be married to that dad.
This is what I want for Christmas. I want to see that little baby in the manger come to life in my babies. I want to see the babies of Galloway know that the Jesus of Christmas cares about them too. I want to be changed. I want Christmas to be a lot less about me and a lot more about Him.
We leave tomorrow. I can barely sleep. It's like "the night before Christmas."
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