Don’t worry, I’m not going to try to give you singing lessons.
As Clint Eastwood said in “Magnum Force”: “A man’s got to know his limitations.” And when it comes to singing, I’m certainly limited.
I do want to pass along a valuable lesson I learned from some Christmas Carolers who could actually sing! But it wasn’t a singing lesson that I learned from them – it was a life lesson.
It started with a knock on the door last Saturday night, and instead of the UPS guy it turned out to be Christmas Carolers! They were all dressed up in warm, Christmas clothes and singing their hearts out.
It was a crew from the Schrader House Church – with Lynn, Dina, and Lindsey singing like angels from song sheets; Andy playing a shiny, gold saxophone; 6-year-old Anabelle running around with light-up sneakers, 9-year-old Coda trying not to be seen behind his Dad, and 7-year-old Isaiah doing flips on the lawn. It was quite a sight to behold!
Our daughter-in-law’s mother Anna, who’s living with us, got to the door first and smiled with delight as she saw them singing to us from the sidewalk.
Lisa was close behind Anna, and when she saw them, she got so excited that she immediately turned around and came running down the hallway to get me.
I was in the back bedroom when I heard the UPS guy singing and playing a sax – so I thought I better go see what was going on.
I jumped out of my chair and hurried up the hallway toward the front door just as Lisa was hurrying down the hallway to get me. It was a Christmas miracle that we didn’t knock each other over in all the excitement!
“It’s Christmas Carolers – from church!” she announced.
I was relieved it wasn’t the UPS guy serenading us.
Okay, okay – so what’s the valuable lesson I learned from all of this?
Just this: Christmas is about giving – and few things warm your heart more than friends who go out of their way to spread Christmas cheer.
It was a cold night, they brought their kids along, and ours was not the only house they blessed that night. But you could tell it was worth the effort to them.
The light in their eyes, the upbeat tone in their voices, and the warm smiles on their faces all unmistakably said, “We love you, we love to celebrate the birth of our Lord, and we want to spread that cheer to you.”
As Anna, Lisa and I stood in our driveway showered with unexpected love and delight that night, all I could think of was how grateful I am to be part of such a wonderful church family that truly believes the words of Jesus – “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35).
I woulda even given them some “figgy pudding” if I had some – whatever that is!
So, this Christmas season, don’t focus on the long lines, slow deliveries, and holiday hassle.
Think of those merry Christmas Carolers who packed up their kids and crew and went out to spread holiday cheer to others because they really believed the words of Jesus: “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35).
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