Thorns and Berries

2 Corinthians 12:6-10,
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Last night we were at a friend’s home. A fellow brother in Christ had invited several people over for dinner and a football game. This friend has two slipped discs in his back and is in chronic pain. He insisted on cooking dinner for everyone while hunched over his stove writhing in pain. I entered the kitchen to help keep the counter clean and assist in the cutting, dicing, and various other prep cook work. My very own eight year old daughter joined me as well. I tried to encourage our friend to go enjoy the football game and that I would help in the kitchen, yet he assured me he was okay. He never complained about his pain the entire night.

At four o’clock this morning I woke up with pain in my back. Sore muscles I suppose, but I can’t imagine why. I hadn’t been doing anything that would cause this kind of uncomfortable feeling. I just could NOT sleep. I got up and went to the couch and tried to stretch out on our feather pillowed cushions, yet the pain would not stop. It was then that my heart broke for my friend. Why do people have to suffer so? This man is faithful in serving the Lord, takes care of his family, and is hospitable to others in his own home, yet we all know what kind of pain he is in. He doesn’t complain. I prayed for him this morning and I was thinking about Thanksgiving.

Each year we read article after article, blog by blog, newspapers, and magazine articles about being thankful. The topic is so focused on during November, but what happens the very next day? We begin the holiday frenzy with Black Friday shopping and the materialism spirals out of control. It’s every man, woman, and child, for himself as we race down the aisles at local stores for the perfect gift. We go into debt to buy the best present for someone. Many times it’s not even a gift they actually need, but rather a want.

My husband and I have been asked to take over our local Toys for Tots organization, as the man and wife team who started in nine years ago will be moving to Virginia. The husband is being sent to Iraq in January. We had a meeting yesterday about the children and agencies that will be contacting us for toys and I think about how many of those families don’t really ‘need’ presents, but rather clothes, shoes, and food. Sure every child should be able to enjoy the holidays with a very special gift. There was a time when I was alone and had no funds to provide a Christmas for my family and I took a small cleaning job for $20 just to buy my two girls some presents. However, what we really needed was someone to have Christmas with. The gifts weren’t as important as someone to love us. This man’s wife and children will have to say goodbye to their husband, and daddy after their Christmas.

In the midst of the thorns of life, I am looking for some berries; a small pulpy fruit, bright in color, nutritious and sweet. I used to pick berries with my mom each summer when she lived in the mountains and we had a blast. Of course, we’d end up eating most of them before we could get the buckets home, but we savored each tiny, juicy, morsel. They may be small, but they are nutritious and sweet. We made fond memories each summer.

Many of us will buy a new toy and donate them unwrapped, toss them in a barrel at our local store and never even see the face of the child as they open it. Parents in need rarely speak up and ask for free gifts, it’s mostly agencies that see a need and offer the help. Do you know of an agency that reaches out to your community’s children to offer them Christmas? Is there a toy giving program in your community? These people can’t do it all on their own. I am amazed at the few programs here in our area that are low on help with what they do. Our local Toys for Tots director will work up until eight o’clock in the evening on Christmas Eve in order to provide gifts for these families.

What a sweet blessing these people are. Just a few in each community that have a desire to help hundreds of families in need, I’m not sure there will be enough berries to fill this pie. Many hands make light work. We’re calling in the troops, so to speak. Distribution day is quickly approaching and what will we offer? Getting new unwrapped toys just doesn’t seem like enough for the kind of needs that are really in this world today. The generous hearts of those who pick up a gift or two when they’re out shopping are priceless, no doubt.

Yet, I think about the loneliness a family feels after the gifts are opened and they have no one to share their joy with. Even worse are the thoughts of families who don’t even know the true joy that comes wrapped in a bundle, lying in a manger. Do America’s people think that baby Jesus was just a baby? Do they think of His story as just another Christmas fable?

My friend will experience chronic back pain for the rest of his life and yet he remains true to the Savior. Are we true to the Savior this coming holiday? Will we be true to the Lord as we spend this Christmas season wrapped up in the idea of getting the latest iPod or PS2 game? What are we really giving America’s children today? What is the true tradition we are handing down to our own children, the next generation? What will Christmas be like for our grandchildren or great-grandchildren?

The Bible says that when we are weak, then He is made strong. Are we weak in the area of being a Christian? How can we allow the Lord to use us this holiday season, to show His strength to the rest of the world, to our state, to our city, to our families?