So this is Christmas. . .

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As planned, Bob and I hit the road after morning Christmas Eve services at our church. We arrived in plenty of time to rest before the evening service. On a good day there might be 20 people attending any service. At 5:40 (church was to start at 6:00) A member of the congregation called. She and her kids and husband have been very busy and then very sick. She had forgotten that there was a family in need she was going to get food for, and she was throwing up seriously. And stressing about the food. All the stores were closing at 6. The church has a food pantry of dry goods, but the family needed milk, bread and eggs. My sister in law dropped my brother, and Bob and I at the church and took off to try to get food somewhere. My brother got the phone number for the family. There were several people at the church. Honestly most of his congregation struggles to have enough employment themselves. With a few quick words though, they gathered canned and boxed goods. One gentleman reminded them to check the freezer and they had a ham and some other meat we could share, as well as a pie. Three large kitchen garbage bags full. My brother asked me to lead the singing as his wife usually did and she was not back.(I love to do it) When she got back she still wanted me to continue. . . she is recovering from cancer treatment and is tired. She had made it to a store in time to get milk, bread, eggs, potatoes and butter. More than once my brother used the sharing of food with this other family, who does not attend our church as an example of Christmas giving, and what we are supposed to do. He thanked the people who had gathered the food while he was preparing for the service. So this is Christmas, a time of giving and sharing. We ate well, and this family will have food at least for the week. We sang, and ate and played games and visited with one another. So this is Christmas, where fellowship makes us family. So this is Christmas. . . may it come often, and not just once a year.