As the holiday season is upon us, here we are faking ourselves into Christmas. Through watching Elf and The Grinch, to making peppermint tea, to singing all the Christmas songs we know; we make ourselves believe that we are in the Christmas spirit. But as Buddy the Elf informs us, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
Well, instead of “singing loud” with our voices, our hands spread the melodic cheer this year.
First Baptist Jonesboro in Georgia partners with our church in Draganesti, and they send a team every year for the Christmas season. We had the privilege of working alongside them this past week for some life-changing ministry.
This church sent loads of boxes filled with baby dolls, t-shirts, socks, hats, blankets, beanie babies, etc. for their Christmas ministry. Once the team arrived, they purchased a plethora of food—all with the intention of re-gifting.
[Freely you have received, so freely give.] Matthew 10:8
Including presents for a family game night, a women’s retreat, and church services, we also reached 10+ villages with Christmas presents this past week. We participated with them for every distribution, and recipients were overjoyed. However, one lady in particular stuck out the most.
My teammate, Kelly, and I were assigned to go with Willy (from the Georgia mission team) and Mariana (from our Romanian church) to reach a poor Gypsy village. Mariana, a social worker, wanted to give gifts to families with children first; therefore, not every house in this village was reached. But just like blood to shark’s nostrils, the surrounding Gypsy families came running to every house we chose to receive gifts.
At one stop, before we even stepped out of the car, an elderly, Gypsy woman ran to the door and was thrilled at the sight of us. However, Mariana did not choose her as a recipient because she didn't have a family to care for, but she told us that we could still give her a Christmas present.
The woman began kissing me and Kelly on the cheeks about twenty times each. With tears in her eyes, she pointed toward heaven and held her heart. Thanking us over and over again, she thought of the only thing to show her gratitude: invite us to her house.
This lady told us that her two daughters had recently died, leaving her all alone. Living a lonely and listless life, this Christmas present was more than she had received in probably her entire lifetime.
I began thinking of everything that I have received over the years for Christmas: a new iPod, ample amounts of clothes, a trip to Disneyworld, etc. Usually, after the gift opening is completed, I still lull over the thing that I did not receive. This woman was ecstatic at the sight of a shirt, a pair of socks, a loaf of bread, and a bottle of oil.
Paul says in the fourth chapter of Philippians, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Dear Jesus,
I pray that this holiday season we learn to be content in You! I pray that we are
able to spread Christmas cheer to everyone, knowing that You will refill us daily.
Thank You for Your gift of Christmas!
Love Your Daughter, Lindsay
