Hard times don't take a Christmas vacation. Illnesses, lost loved ones, job loss, a budget stretched so far that buying a gift or a special meal makes it snap, loneliness—all are all cold realities for many families.
Two ladies in our church have buried their husbands in the last two months. No matter how many friends and loved ones surround them, they will feel the deep longing for their dearests. Another friend had no money for gifts for the seven children in her home until God provided a miracle. Few of us have the means to give our families the gifts we wish we could give.
I know several people who really stretch their money to make ends meet. There's only so much elastic in a dollar bill you know. I've been testing that stretch capacity full-time for twelve years now.
Maybe you're like one of us. Perhaps you have another problem. Most likely you know someone who's struggling. Our families will be affected differently by these situations, but it will be a challenging season for all of us.
Sometimes, in our desperation, we give up to despair.
Sometimes, in our desperation, we give in to God and
He takes over. He comes in and saves us... maybe not
from the circumstances...but always from the despair.
Give in and find hope, peace, love, healing, and provision.
God's arm is not too short. Nothing is impossible with God.
Please enjoy this story that I share each year....
A Christmas Miracle on the Frontier
I remember a day one winter that stands out like a boulder in my life.
The weather was unusually cold; our salary had not been regularly paid, and it did not meet our needs when it was.
My husband was away much of the time, traveling from one district to
another. Our boys were well, but my little Ruth was ailing and at best
none of us were decently clothed. I patched and re -patched, with
spirits sinking to the lowest ebb. The water gave out in the well and
the wind blew through the cracks in the floor.
The people in the parish were kind, and generous too, but the settlement
was new and each family was struggling for itself. Little by little, at
the time I needed it most, my faith began to waver.
Early in life I was taught to take God at His word, and I thought my
lesson was well learned. I had lived upon the promises in dark times
until I knew, as David did, who was my Fortress and my Deliverer. Now a
daily prayer for forgiveness was all that I could offer.
My husband’s overcoat was hardly thick enough for October, and he was
often obliged to ride miles to attend some meeting or funeral.
Christmas was coming; the children always expected their presents. I
remember the ice was thick and smooth and the boys were each craving a
pair of skates. Ruth, in some unaccountable way, had taken a fancy that
the dolls I had made were no longer suitable; she wanted a nice large
one, and insisted on praying for it.
I knew it was impossible, but, oh! how I wanted to give each child his
present. It seemed as if God had deserted us. But I did not tell my
husband all this. He worked so earnestly and heartily, I supposed him to
be as hopeful as ever. I kept the sitting room cheerful with an open
fire, and I tried to serve our scanty meals as invitingly as I could.
That morning before Christmas, James was called to see a sick man. I put
up a piece of bread for his lunch–it was the best I could do–wrapped my
plaid shawl around his neck and then tried to whisper a promise as I
often had, but the words died away upon my lips. I let him go without
it. That was a dark, hopeless day. I coaxed the children to bed early,
for I could not bear their talk. When Ruth went, I listened for her
prayer. She asked for the last time most explicitly for her doll and for
skates for her brothers. Her bright face looked so lovely when she
whispered to me, “You know I think they’ll be here early tomorrow
morning, Mama” that I thought I could move Heaven and earth to save her
from disappointment. I sat down alone and gave way to the most bitter
tears.
Before long James returned, chilled and exhausted. He drew off his
boots. The thin stockings clipped off with them and his feet were red
with cold. “I wouldn’t treat a dog that way; let alone a faithful
servant,” I said. Then as I glanced up and saw the hard lines in his
face and the look of despair, it flashed across me that James had let go
too.
I brought him a cup of tea, feeling sick and dizzy at the very thought.
He took my hand and we sat for an hour without a word. I wanted to die
and meet God and tell Him His promise wasn’t true–my soul was so full of
rebellious despair.
There came a sound of bells, a quick step and a loud knock at the door.
James sprang to open it. There stood Deacon White. “A box came by
express just before dark. I brought it around as soon as I could get
away. Reckoned it might be for Christmas. ‘At any rate’ I said, ‘they
shall have it tonight.’ Here is a turkey my wife asked me to fetch along
and these other things I believe belong to you.”
There were a basket of potatoes, and a bag of flour. Talking all the
time, he hurried in the box and then with a hearty good night, he rode
away.
Still without speaking, James found a chisel and opened the box. He drew
out first a thick red blanket and we saw that beneath it, the box was
full of clothing. It seemed at that moment as if Christ fastened upon me
a look of reproach. James sat down and covered his face with his hands.
“I can’t touch them,” he explained. “I haven’t been true, just when God
was trying me to see if I could hold out. Do you think I could not see
how you were suffering? And I had no word of comfort to offer. I know
now how to preach the awfulness of turning away from God.”
“James,” I said, clinging to him, “don’t take it to heart like this. I
am to blame. I ought to have helped you. We will ask Him together to
forgive us.” We poured out words of praise–Bible words, for nothing
else could express our thanksgiving. It was eleven o’ clock; the fire
was low and there was the great box with nothing touched but the warm
blanket we needed. We piled on some fresh logs, lighted two candles and
began to examine our treasures.
We drew out an overcoat. I made James try it on–just the right size–and I
danced around him, for all my lightheartedness had returned. There was a
cloak and he insisted on seeing me in it. My spirits always infected
him and we both laughed like foolish children.
There was a warm suit of clothes also and three pairs of woolen hose.
There were a dress for me and yards of flannel, a pair of arctic
overshoes for each of us and in mine a slip of paper. I have it now and
mean to hand it down to my children. It was Jacob’s blessing to Asher:
“Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days so shall thy
strength be.”
In the gloves, evidently for James, the same dear hand had written: “I
the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I
will help thee.” It was a wonderful box and packed with thoughtful
care. There were a suit of clothes for each of the boys and a little red
gown for Ruth. There were mittens, scarf, and hood, and down in the
center–a box. We opened it and there was a great wax doll!! I burst into
tears again and James wept with me for joy. It was too much! And then
we both exclaimed again, for close behind it came two pairs of skates.
There were books for us to read–some of them I had wished to see–stories
for the children to read, aprons and underclothing, knots of ribbon, a
gay little tidy, a lovely photograph, needles, buttons, and thread, a
muff, and an envelope containing a ten dollar gold piece.
At last we cried over everything we took up. It was past midnight and we
were faint and exhausted even with happiness. I made a cup of tea, cut a
fresh loaf of bread and James boiled some eggs. We drew up the table
before the fire. How we enjoyed our supper! And then we sat talking over
our life and how sure a help God always proved.
You should have seen the children the next morning! The boys raised a
shout at the sight of their skates–Ruth caught up her doll and hugged it
tightly without a word; then she went into her room and knelt by her
bed. When she came back she whispered to me, “I knew it would be here
Mama, but I wanted to thank God just the same, you know.”
“Look here, Wife, see the difference!” We went to the window and there
were the boys out of the house already and skating on the crust with all
their might. My husband and I both tried to return thanks to the
church in the East that sent us the box–and have tried to return thanks
unto God every day since.
Hard times have come again and again, but we have trusted in
Him–dreading nothing so much as a doubt of His protecting care. “They
that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”
~~~~~
Reprinted by permission from
Lizzie at A Dusty Frame. She typed it up from a very old book,
The Sword Book of Treasures by Dr. John R. Rice, published in 1946 gem.
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May I suggest?
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My daughter, Amy, learning a bit about pottery from our friend, Chris Lorenzen. Check out her Etsy shop!
