"A Christmas Serendipity"

     A meeting descended on us seemingly out of the blue on Christmas Eve, one that blessed us with the sense of God's presence and involvement more than words can express.

    We normally conduct two services on Tuesdays at a local retirement and nursing facility.  This week, because of the holiday and short staffing, we expected the second meeting to be cancelled.  We planned to make personal visits to the residents in lieu of the service, and had begun to do so.  One of the residents, however, had other plans.  Mrs. Patricia informed us that she would gather people for a meeting, to convene in the cafeteria.  She informed the few staffers present, and began to traverse the halls on her walker to make things happen (please allow that image to burn itself deep into your mind and heart).  Mrs. Patricia succeeded, and we discovered with much surprise and delight a gathering of residents awaiting us in the cafeteria.  We began the service, and more and more people joined us as we sang Christmas carols and shared the Lord together.

    The late afternoon sun glimmered beautifully through the windows of the cafeteria, and even more, smiles and expressions of gladness illuminated the faces of the residents.  I'm not sure if we actually sang "Joy To the World" during the meeting, but I'm sure that we all felt as if such wonder had blessedly come to our particular portion of the planet!  We hope, of course, that all our meetings at the facility result from our Heavenly Father's plans and purposes.  Of Tuesday's Christmas Eve assembly, I'm sure all who attended will attest that He convened and met with us in a wondrous way.

   I will never forget the meeting, the way it looked, the way it sounded, the way it felt, the way it was.  So here's to Mrs. Patricia, and to the Lord who moved upon her heart, and by her halting steps.  A Christmas serendipity graced us on the Eve, and its blessedness lingers in the heart, and in the thankful prayers of those who were there.

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of the Lord!"
(Psalm 122:1)

Weekly Memory Verse   
    Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which, being interpreted, is God with us."
(Matthew 1:23)