Psalm 37:3-5 (NIV)
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land
and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will
give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him
and he will do this:
Listen to the account as a magician shares how a Christmas
show change his life and how it affected his Christmas’s to come.
One Christmas, years ago, I got a call to do a magic show
on Christmas Eve at a family home in Halihi. A little girl there was ill with
cancer.
December is my busiest month and I was pretty tired from
working overtime, but the Uncle who called me was persistent and phoned several
days running, so I gave them a very reasonable quote and tried to figure out
how to do a portable version of my stage show.
When I got there, no one was ready ("Filipino
time" they told me), there were 9 children and adults coming. The more I
thought about it, the more I tried to figure a way to do as much of my show in
this small downstairs room as I could. Why not, it was Christmas Eve.
My screens were brought in and set up. It was very tight.
The people came in with a beautiful little 9 year old
girl, not even in a real wheelchair, just a regular wooden chair with caster
wheels attached. Bald from Chemotherapy and with an oxygen tube to help her
breath.
Her eyes were very pretty, wide and attentive. She seemed
as excited as the other children though less active. I understood this would be
perhaps her last Christmas on earth with her family.
I did my regular show with energy and a smile on my face
though inside my heart was sinking. I was just wishing there was something more
I could do. I felt like I was on autopilot, part of me standing back and
watching. I did all the jokes and bits of business that make people laugh that
I'd learned over my lifetime.
These people needed joy. They responded heartily and with
tremendous warmth. For a moment everyday reality was less important, (that is
the gift of the entertainer I guess.) For once, I was not just "Happy to
get everything to work," but very humbled.
Afterwards as they went to food and conversation, I
packed everything away to get back and close down the house for my folks who
had their own physical issues to deal with. Here it was Christmas Eve and I was
surrounded by mortality, yet I think God let me share what I could do and
showed me sometimes it really makes a difference.
I could have used the money I suppose, but they certainly
needed it more. The last gift was pressing the $100 in loose bills back into
the smiling Uncles' hand and saying "That's ok, I have nieces...Merry
Christmas." His face lit up and he said "Oh! An honest man!" And
went to tell his incredulous relatives. Maybe to him it seemed like a minor
miracle. I had to turn away and leave quickly so he wouldn't see the tears in
my eyes.
Seeing how you can do something that counts, isn't that
the best gift someone can get? For me, it was the best Christmas gift I can
remember.
What a great challenge for each of us. Every year and
especially at Christmas offer to do something for a family or Charity that can
use what you do. Each of us is good at something; why not take today to share
it with someone who really needs it. Be a blessing today.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the gifts and talents that You
have given to us. This Christmas season open our eyes so that we may see those
that can benefit from us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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