'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and we were packing up from a whole season of helping people (sorry, this isn't going to rhyme!). We were tired and looking forward to crashing, but two more ladies came in asking for last minute help to make their kid's Christmas better. Sighing heavily (in our hearts), but smiling heartily to them, we headed back to the toys and clothing to help put together another couple of packages. We bent over backwards for these two- asking special preferences for their kids and such. When we were finished we whispered a prayer and felt real good about what we had just done.

Later that night, we couldn't seem to find the cell phone that had been donated to our Christmas Center for the season. We had shut it off, packed it up and placed it on the counter for the return to the company. Now it was nowhere to be found. The longer we looked, the worse we felt. Where did we place that thing? We turned the Christmas center upside down looking. We searched the entire corps with no results. Sleep was dampened with worry about that phone. Would we have to pay for it? So much for the "donation!"

Monday, we reached the phone company and found there was usage on the phone since Christmas Eve. Sure enough- there had been many calls! Aha! It wasn't misplaced, it was stolen! And stolen by the very ladies we worked so hard to help at the last minute. We didn't have to help them, but we did. Now to think they took such advantage of us!

The end of this story will play out over the next few days as we try to get the lifted phone returned. Our first response was: "Thanks for the phone return ladies. Now don't ever come back to The Salvation Army for help again." But the more I think about this, the more I don't think that will be our "final answer."

What if God treated us that way when we screwed up? We'd be out in left field, that's what. Good thing he shows his mercy and forgives. But his desire is that we be more like him as we walk this Christian path. WWJD? in this situation? Probably tell a parable, forgive and show them how much he loves them. Then make sure they understand that they are welcome back anytime. He'd be only too glad to be taken advantage again, if it meant he'd be able to show his great love for them one more time- that next time might be the time they get it and believe in him. That would be worth all the times he'd been taken advantage of.

I hope we get our phone back. But more importantly, I hope these ladies get what we're doing and living. Maybe this time these ladies will get the message of the Jesus we talk about.