Dad & Joseph - December 11, 2001

 

At our Christmas concert I shared a favorite Christmas memory from my childhood. Here it is for those of you who weren't able to attend.

When I was 9 or 10, my Grandpa was very sick around Christmas time. We were planning to go to my Grandparents farm in north Missouri when my dad got off work on Christmas Eve, but this year my mom went on several days early to help take care of Grandpa. That left my dad and me by ourselves on Christmas Eve. I remember dad fixing us dinner and then going into our front room to open packages under our little tree. Bless his heart, my dad tried his best, but something was missing. Christmas just wasn't the same without mom there. Now that I'm a dad, I realize how it must have broken his heart that he couldn't make the holiday perfect for me.

Every time I think of that Christmas, I think of another dad who must have been disappointed at Christmas time. I'm sure Joseph was frustrated and troubled that his lovely new bride was about to give birth to his first child, and the best he could provide was a stinky barn far away from home. What a humbling experience to know the baby deserved so much and be able to offer so little. And yet, Joseph set an example that all of us should follow as we approach the Christ. We must be humbled if we truly realize how much He is worthy to receive and how little we have to offer. If we, like Joseph, give all we can, no matter how meager that may be, God will once again bless us with his presence. And just like that first holy night, he may not work according to our plans and ideas, but whatever He chooses to do, without a doubt it will be miraculous!

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