Our Christmas Angel
My wife and I refer to Ibrahim as "our Christmas angel" of last year.
It was a time when our middle daughter was working through a highly rebellious stage. She had decided to live, and celebrate Christmas, with another family. It was a sad time for us. In the midst of this time, our oldest daughter invited her good friend from College to experience Christmas with our family. Ibrahim was Jewish, and had never celebrated Christmas, secular or religious.
He was truly like a little kid the whole time, wide-eyed and constantly smiling, and so very appreciative. On Christmas Eve it is our tradition to share stocking gifts, and it is my mischievous effort to offer a deluge of corny little items. All the family pretends to moan and groan, but they appreciate the good-nature humour. This time we included a stocking full of stuff for Ibrahim. Excitedly he took his turns opening and enjoying his little gifts. We drank hot chocolate, played Christmas songs on the stereo, and laughed alot. The next morning we all got up early to open the big gifts. And of course Santa left something under the tree for Ibrahim. Afterwards we gathered and I read aloud the Christmas story. We had breakfast together and went to church that day. He was overflowing with smiles and hugs for his Christmas experience.
We've continued the friendship, and he has gone around telling his friends we are his "second family". But the greatest benefit came to us. He came along at absolutely the right time- filling an empty spot, and making what would have been a challenging Christmas into a bright and happy occasion. So, I know for a fact that angels still come along at Christmastime.
12.24.06 (11:37 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
seochris (
reply)
post date:
12.24.06 (9:00 pm)
That was an amazing experience. I don't know whether Ibrahim was an Angel or like but he may have been inspired by God to come to ur house with ur daughter.
Merry Xmas to u Pastor.
Expecting an angel this year??
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.24.06 (9:25 pm)
I have my angel this year. My grandaughter of 9 months, Skylar. I'm not sure if God can top this one, next year.
posted by:
ruined (
reply)
post date:
12.24.06 (10:06 pm)
Wow... that actually put me in the "Christmas spirit". As commercial as Christmas has become, it's been really hard to find that Christmas spirit feeling I would get as a kid. It's neat to see that our "11th Hour God" even works during the holidays to fill certain holes in our lives.
posted by:
kurtmaddox (
reply)
post date:
12.24.06 (10:40 pm)
Merry Christmas PD!
posted by:
doeeyed (
reply)
post date:
12.25.06 (4:57 am)
Merry Christmas :)
May God deliver a Christmas Angel to you every year!
Regardless of the form they come in, I think we can find Angels around us everyday.
Blessings to you and your family Pastor Dave.
Doe
posted by:
mimi (
reply)
post date:
12.25.06 (7:24 am)
Hear! Hear! Thank God for our angels, every day of every year!
Merry Christmas, to you and yours, PDave!
With love,
Mimi xoxox
posted by:
mimi (
reply)
post date:
12.25.06 (7:25 am)
Reply to: doeeyed
AMEN!
Merry Christmas, lady friend'o'mine!
xoxox
posted by:
69whisper (
reply)
post date:
12.25.06 (9:34 am)
:)
Merry Christmas.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
12.25.06 (11:56 am)
It's nice to hear a touching tale like that amidst all the commercial and chaos in which the true spirit of Christmas is often lost.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.25.06 (2:27 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
I'd like to believe the true spirit of Christmas is alive and well, just not noticed or appreciated by the ones who write the news.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.25.06 (2:28 pm)
Reply to: 69whisper
Thanks, my friend. Happy blogging.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.25.06 (2:29 pm)
Reply to: mimi
You have a few angels circling around you, it seems to me. Friends. Family. Even the real thing! God bless, and have a great Christmas.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.25.06 (2:30 pm)
Reply to: doeeyed
Makes sense to me. And merry Christmas!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.25.06 (2:30 pm)
Reply to: kurtmaddox
Have a great Christmas, by blogging friend.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
12.26.06 (4:18 am)
Hope your Christmas was just as meaningful this year.
