I almost forgot to write the VIP this week. It has been a very busy time with Hanna in the hospital and it just seems like the week has vaporized. But now it is Wednesday and she came home this morning finally and this afternoon as I was working on the message for today I suddenly realized that I had not written for this week. So, here I am!
Hanna’s surgery went well. In fact it went very well, but then there was a little hiccup with her knee and that necessitated an extended stay. The end of the story, however, is that she is home and doing quite well and she thanks every one of you for your prayers, cards, and concern. She should be back in church in a week or two we hope.
At the same time, just two doors down the hallway, George Krkljlus was in the hospital with some serious challenges which we still don’t know the answers for. I would just ask you to pray hard for George and for Kay as well. I don’t need to go into all of the details, but God hears and answers our prayers without those details.
One more prayer request would be to include Ron Rosenbrand in your prayers. He is facing a battle with colon cancer and has already begun treatment prior to surgery. It is hard for these and others to answer a lot of specific questions about their needs, so just keep them in your prayers and when you see them give them a very gentle squeeze.
If you are looking for something unique to make Christmas special this year consider sending a card to a soldier recovering from wounds received while serving all of us. What a great idea. Let’s see what we can generate. Send your cards to the following:
A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001
Another great Christmas gift idea is just to make sure that you give the gift of spoken love. Consider the following experience I read about.
After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would Love to spend some time with you."
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my Mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. "What's wrong, are you well," she asked? My Mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. "I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you," I responded "just the two of us. “She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much."
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. "I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting."
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My Mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mother sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. "It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said. "Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation nothing Extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed. "How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice, Much more so than I could have imagined," I answered.
A few days later, my Mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place Mother and I had dined. An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: "I love YOU" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time."
Perhaps the greatest gift you could give another person this Christmas would be your love and some of your precious time. Enjoy!
