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December 15, 2008 - Gift Angels

“It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.” 1 Peter 1:12

Whenever we stay overnight with our grandchildren we like to surprise them with special presents.  Nothing wild – most of the time the gifts are from the toy section at Wal-Mart. There is something about seeing the joy in a child’s eyes when they wake-up and discover a special present sitting beside their bedside.

As absentee grandparents we aren’t able to share in the daily activities of our children’s families because of the distance between us. During our conversations with our grandchildren we love to talk about the joy that comes with knowing Jesus.  We tell them about God’s angels that help protect them as they go about their daily business.

When the children discover the gifts we remind them that there are gift angels and messengers of gift angels (like grandparents) who deliver special packages to little boys and girls.  Scripture tells us that angels are involved in acts of human kindness.

Louise and I have occasionally received similar gifts and acts of random kindness.  When it happens, we feel the same joy and appreciation our grandchildren have when they get their gifts.  Based upon our feelings, I know that adults can appreciate those “love gifts from others” just as much as the kids do.

The following story helps put the “act of giving” into perspective.  Let’s all try to be a “gift angels” to someone this Christmas.  Blessings Jim

“Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey His word.” Ps. 103:20

Christmas Roses

Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow. He didn't wear boots; he didn't like 'em and anyway, he didn't have any. The tennies he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold.
    
Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mom's Christmas gift. He shook his head as he thought, "This is useless, even if I do come up with an idea I don't have any money to spend."
    
Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, the family of five had struggled. It wasn't because his mother didn't care or try, there just never seemed to be enough. She worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage that she was earning could only be stretched so far.
    
What the family lacked in money and material things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. Bobby had two older and one younger sister, who ran the household in their mother's absence. All three of his sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother. Somehow it just wasn't fair!
    
Here it was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing. Wiping the tears from his face, Bobby kicked the snow and started to walk down to the street where the shops and stores were.
    
It wasn't easy being six without a father, especially when he needed a man to talk to.
    
Bobby walked from shop to shop, looking into each decorated window.  Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of reach. It was starting to get dark and Bobby reluctantly turned to walk home when suddenly his eyes caught the glimmer of the setting sun's rays reflecting off of something along the curb. He reached down and discovered a shiny dime. Never before had anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby felt at that moment. As he held his new found treasure, a warmth spread throughout his entire body and he walked into the first store he saw.
    
His excitement quickly turned cold when salesperson after salesperson told him that he could not buy anything with only a dime.
    
He saw a flower shop and went inside to wait in line. When the shop owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower for his mother's Christmas gift. The shop owner looked at Bobby and his ten cent offering. Then he put his hand on Bobby's shoulder and said to him, "You just wait here and I'll see what I can do for you."
    
As Bobby waited, he looked at the beautiful flowers and even though he was a boy, he could see why mothers and girls liked flowers so much.
    
The sound of the door closing as the last customer left jolted Bobby back to reality. All alone in the shop, Bobby began to feel alone and afraid.  Suddenly the shop owner came out and moved to the counter. There, before Bobby's eyes, lay twelve long stem, red roses, with leaves of green and tiny white flowers all tied together with a big silver bow.
    
Bobby's heart sank as the owner picked them up and placed them gently into a long white box. "That will be ten cents young man," the shop owner said reaching out his hand for the dime. Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime.
    
Could this be true? No one else would give him a thing for his dime! Sensing the boy's reluctance, the shop owner added, "I just happened to have some roses on sale for ten cents a dozen.  Would you like them?"
    
This time Bobby did not hesitate, and when the man placed the long box into his hands, he knew it was true. Walking out the door that the owner was holding for Bobby, he heard the shop keeper say, "Merry Christmas, son."
    
As he returned inside, the shopkeeper's wife walked out. "Who were you talkin' to and where are those roses you were fixing?"
    
Staring out the window, and blinking the tears from his own eyes, he replied, "A strange thing happened to me this morning. While I was setting up things to open the shop, I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. I wasn't sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set them aside anyway.
    
Then just a few minutes ago, a little boy came into the shop and wanted to buy one flower for his mother with a dime. When I looked at him, I saw myself, many years ago. I too, was a poor boy with nothing to buy my mom a Christmas gift. A bearded man, whom I never knew, stopped me on the street and told me that he wanted to give me ten dollars. When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was, and I put together a dozen of my very best roses for him to give to his mom."
    
The shop owner and his wife hugged each other tightly, and as they stepped out into the bitter cold air, they somehow didn't feel so cold at all.
    
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How many times do we let an opportunity pass by when we could be an Angel for someone who needs just a little love and encouragement? The need for Random Acts of Kindness in the world is great! Angels...strap on your wings and get out there!