When my son asked why we received gifts on Jesus’ birthday, I was utterly stumped for a quick response, yet, as a momma bear, I was instantly proud that my kid had enough smarts and curiosity to bring this question to light. Realizing that those in the faith can’t even agree on decorating a tree, exchanging gifts, and heaven forbid allowing a child to believe in Santa, know I’m not going to listen to any preacher condemning my tree or the jolly fat man with a beard. Anyway, the idea of Christmas and everything it is supposed to represent in the life of a Christian, including sentiments, beliefs, and actions (like generosity in exchanging gifts), should be present all year round.
Regarding this column, I prayed harder than usual to find something worth sharing to capture this time of year when we reflect upon Jesus leaving His throne at the right hand of the Father, coming to earth, being born in a human state, in a lowly manger in Bethlehem, and is the founding reason we say: Immanuel; God with us!
And so it was, one rainy, cold November afternoon, snuggled by the fireplace, the answer came. While scrolling through social media, one heartwarming story seemed to descend from heaven above.
Shared by various sources over multiple platforms, this story has nothing to do with Christmas, yet it wondrously illustrates the idea of Immanuel, God being with us. At least it did for me!
In an interview, Senior Pastor Cliffe Knechtle from Grace Community Church in New Canaan, Connecticut, shared: “Mark and Susan had been married a few years when suddenly she began to lose her eyesight. And she got really depressed and sank into a deep slough of despond. But Mark said, ‘Listen, honey, I’m going to stick with you, and I’m going to help you learn how to do your job blind.’ So they worked hard at it. He went with her to the office every day, showed her how to do her job as a blind woman, and he would leave for his work at an Army base. Well, one day, he turned to her and said, ‘Susan, I’m sorry, but I’m getting to work too late. You’re going to have to go to your job on your own, and she was freaked out, ‘There’s no way I can ride the bus, walk the streets, go up the stairs, go into the office building, sit at my desk and do this on my own.’ And he said, ‘No honey, I’m going to stay with you, and I’m going to teach you. And so they did it for a couple of weeks. And eventually he said, ‘Okay, I think you know it well enough, I’ve got to go to work at an earlier hour.’ So, Monday came, she got on the bus, walked the block, walked up the stairs- seamless. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, it went beautifully. Friday, as she’s getting on the bus, the bus driver says, ‘You know you’re a really lucky woman.’ And she says, ‘Stop it. I’m a blind woman.’ He said, ‘Well, yes, ma’am, but uh, every day this week that you’ve gotten off the bus, there’s a man standing on the street corner in a military uniform, and he never takes his eyes off you. And when you walk down the sidewalk, he’s watching you carefully like a hawk. You cross the street at the right time, he’s watching you like a hawk. You go up the stairs, you open the door, you go in, and as soon as that door closes, he stands ramrod tall, gives you a salute, blows you a kiss, and then turns to go away.’ And all of a sudden, Susan understood that’s my husband- he’s been watching me tirelessly for all this time- I’m not alone, he’s watching me.”
Cliffe further expounded, “And that’s exactly what God does even in a more profound way, and then he calls us to do that with each other, to really protect each other to focus in on each other, to listen to each other, to build each other up, to encourage each other…”
Well, there you have it! I do so wish you a Merry Christmas, and may you feel the presence of Immanuel, God, with us- now, throughout the entirety of 2025, and forevermore!
God is good! Always!