So valued

It can be so uplifting, can’t it, when others value us and what we offer? It can make us stand taller and straighter, feel stronger and more whole and even help us see the world around us in a much more positive light.

Recently, our son bought a selection of the books I have written as Christmas gifts for the teachers in his school staffroom. I was surprised at his request but happy to oblige. Yet it was more than that, I realised, as I helped him choose which book might best suit each teacher. I felt touched and honoured that he valued me not only as a mum but also as a writer – that he thought enough of my books to give them as gifts to his colleagues whom he has not even known for long and wanted them to see my name on the front of each book, which of course is also his surname.

Perhaps this balances out a little our eleven-year-old grandson’s perspective of his nanna, whom he often delights to tease by calling me ‘just as old lady’! I have pointed out to him more than once that, while I may not know much about the amazing computer-oriented things he knows, I have other strengths. I also have a couple of university degrees, as well as a couple of diplomas, but they, of course, mean little to him at this stage – and neither do the ten books I have written. Yet underneath it all, I know he loves and values me, if the warm hugs he gives me at times are anything to go by. And I hope and pray he will continue to value me, the older he becomes.

Some may argue that Christians should show more humility than this and that we are not to look to others to boost our self-esteem or feed our vanity. Recently, I heard of an instance where someone was asked to name something they feel they do well. They refused to because they seemed to think that would be showing too much pride in themselves and their achievements. Yet surely it is wise to know what we do well so we can live and serve in a way that brings joy to ourselves and others, as well as glory to God? And surely we can do this without becoming too puffed up with pride as we remember who gave us the gifts we have?

Surely too, we can seek to mirror to others something at least of the value our heavenly Father places on each one of us. Psalm 139 states that God knows us intimately and is always there, watching over us. Then on one occasion, Jesus reassured his disciples with the following words:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  Matthew 10:29–31

Above all, however, we see just how much more God values us above those sparrows when we remember how Jesus came to earth for our sakes and paid the ultimate price to save us.

We are indeed loved and valued. May we in turn love and value others too.

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Peacemaking

Sometimes, the stress and busyness of the Christmas season can sadly seem to bring out the worst in us. We have so much to do – so many gifts to buy, so many events to attend, so many people to contact – that our tempers may become a little unruly. At least, that is what occurred in a recent incident in which I reluctantly became involved.

I arrived late on the scene to find one person doing their best to arrange for our group to practise in a large lounge area for an upcoming event. However, another much smaller group already present had apparently objected strongly, as this would require them to move to a spot a few metres further away to continue chatting. There was plenty of room to do so, but one lady in particular decided to dig her heels in.

‘That man there was so rude,’ she fumed to me. ‘He calls himself a Christian, but the way he spoke to our group certainly didn’t seem too Christian to me! Anyway, why can’t they go and practise in their usual room? I think it’s disgusting!’

I hastily tried to take in what was occurring and decided the best approach would be to see if our group could indeed practise in our usual spot after all.

Eventually, after a quick combined effort on the part of various group members, that was arranged. We had our rehearsal in the smaller area, but I felt so unsettled by the offended lady’s words that I decided to return to the lounge to see if I could find her. She was still sitting there relaxing and beamed as soon as she caught sight of me.

‘Thank you very much!’ she said. ‘That was what should have happened in the first place.’

I understood where she was coming from but also knew the main reason the large practice area would have worked much better for us – and probably been safer too, considering the many people around nearby with COVID. I decided this lady needed to know why the spokesperson for our group had said what he had so explained his reasoning as gently as I could. She was not convinced, but her attitude seemed to soften as we chatted, and we parted as friends in the end.

This whole experience reminded me vividly of the power of making peace with others while we can – and as quickly as we can. While our group could perhaps have gone about things in a more sensitive, caring way, the other smaller group could definitely have been much more accommodating and far less petty and selfish! Yet what was there to gain in pursuing our cause? Only further dissension that could perhaps bring Jesus’ name into disrepute, in one lady’s eyes at least.

This Christmas, may we instead, in all our words and actions and however much others might offend us, truly honour our Saviour Jesus Christ, who came into this world to bring deep and lasting peace – peace between us and God, peace between us and others and peace deep within our own hearts too.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

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Lost

As I wheeled my shopping trolley towards the supermarket checkout, I noticed a neatly dressed man standing nearby, looking confused.

‘I’m new here,’ he told me. ‘Can you tell me how I get out?’

A little confused myself as to why he could not see where to go, I guided him through another checkout. But as I finally left the supermarket myself, I saw this same gentleman standing outside, still confused. This time, I went up and asked if he was okay.

‘I’m lost,’ he told me. ‘I came on the bus but stopped to look at something and the others went on without me. I’m from the Christadelphian village. Do you know where our bus is?’

I did not but suggested we try the two main exits. At the first, there was no sign of his bus so we headed for the other at the far end of the centre. As we walked, he told me his name was Michael and that he was 84. I felt so sorry for him as, by this time, he looked so agitated and tired. We made it to the second exit – but again, no bus.

We then headed to the information counter but it was unmanned. So, I asked for help in a nearby chemist and someone pointed to a security guard hurrying by. I yelled out to him and discovered the bus pulled in at a tradesman’s entrance at the edge of the food court, so off we went again.

We had almost reached this entrance when my new friend’s face suddenly lit up.

‘There they are!’ he exclaimed with great relief and headed straight for a group of older people seated nearby. He hurriedly plonked down next to them and began to wipe sweat from his forehead.

‘That was a terrible experience,’ he said, gasping for breath. ‘Thank you very much for helping me!’

I turned to explain what had happened to the young carer in charge of the group but, to my shock, she did not seem too fazed at all – or even too inclined to care for Michael.

‘I think he needs a glass of water at least,’ I told her in my most disapproving tone, before wheeling my trolley away. But when I arrived home, I found I was still fuming. Surely they could have cared better for this poor gentleman? If I had not noticed him standing there so distressed, someone else would soon hopefully have helped him, but how long would that have taken?

Later, when I told my husband the story, I began thinking how graphically it depicted our own lost state when we do not know Jesus Christ. We may set off happily enough in life, following along with our friends and trying all sorts of different ways and experiences. But at some stage, like Michael, we may end up well and truly confused, alarmed and even hopeless. We may ask here and there for help but find none. Yet, Jesus is constantly reaching out to us, longing to set our feet on the right path again.

May we each respond with sincere love and gratitude as we are found by him and welcomed home!

‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ John 14:6

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Still there

I walked slowly through our local shopping centre, my mind focused on buying Christmas gifts. Already, I had noted some expensive items on display in nearby stores and was questioning my decision to spend no more than a certain predetermined amount on each person. Was I being mean? Should I rethink how much I planned to spend? After all, prices have risen so much and my money will not go as far as in previous years. Yet … do our grandchildren in particular need anything further spent on them? Would whatever I ended up choosing be the right thing for them anyway? Would it be appreciated? Would it ever even be used?

Taking a deep breath, I decided I would not allow myself to become overwhelmed with everything I saw around me. Yet I felt disturbed at how the real meaning of Christmas seemed to be lost, in the midst of all the commercialism everywhere. I turned to move on, then caught sight of the large nativity scene nearby in the middle of a main walkway.

In the seven years we have lived in the area, this scene has always appeared in the same spot. Somewhere along the way, it has lost its glass covering and, I suspect one or two angels and perhaps other figures too. But there it was once again – and I immediately felt relieved. So relieved, in fact, that I stopped then and there to take a photo of it and thus draw other shoppers’ attention to the tableau as well. Despite all the Christmas paraphernalia everywhere else, here it was, still making a simple, quiet statement about the coming of the Saviour to this world. No fanfare or bells and whistles of any sort – just like on that first Christmas so many years ago.

I then entered a large department store. As I looked around in the Christmas section, all I could see were all sorts of shiny Christmas baubles, red Christmas stockings, Santa Clauses, snowmen, reindeer antlers, overpriced gifts and Christmas cards with all sorts of images on them – but none depicting Jesus’ birth. Maybe the card makers and retailers are of one mind, I decided, with someone I once heard about who commented, on seeing a manger scene or such like somewhere: ‘Why do some people have to go and spoil Christmas for everyone with all this religious stuff?’

Recently too, I discovered our younger grandchildren do not know any Christmas carols. They may vaguely recognise ones like ‘Silent Night’ or ‘Away in a Manger’, but that is the extent of it. Carols are not taught in our state schools now for various reasons – and many children do not attend Scripture classes where there might be a possibility of hearing them. Perhaps this is not such an issue, however, since many adults seem happy to sing them blithely, without realising or apparently believing what they are singing.

Yet, in the midst of all this, Jesus is still there, waiting for us to welcome him into our hearts and lives. May we truly receive him – and truly honour and adore him this Christmas and always.

He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:11–12 NLT

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