What is a Christmas Miracle?
Hello, friends! I’m sorry it’s been some time since my last
blog. Too much time! But let's get into it, shall we?
With this post I could talk about how this has been one of
the best Christmases I’ve ever had...mention the several belt busting meals I’ve
had...and the wonderful families I have been adopted into here on the "Dark Continent", but that’s not what I’m going to focus on with this post. Though all
of these things in their own way are miracles, the miracle I want to talk about
is even deeper and more beautiful in all of its value than all these things put
into one.
Christmas (not "happy holidays") is a very special time of
year. To quote Chevy Chase's character in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation –
“Christmas is a time of year for putting aside differences and resolving
conflicts and coming together.” And it's so very true!
The house I live in is a Christian home. To help us run the
home we have a small staff that help us. They too are Christians. Our night
guard is a really cool dude and some nights I’m out there late talking away with
him about every subject you can imagine. When I asked how Christmas was… well
let the miracles begin!
I had no idea that my Christian friend had married a Muslim
woman. This year, she, of her own choosing, became a Christian. She
accepted Christ. The district she comes from in Malawi is an Islamic stronghold and has been for a long time. She is the first person from that region to have been born Muslim and then to have converted to Christianity. WOW!
Culturally that never happens. You stay to what you where
brought up to be, no questions asked. It's how it is. You respect your family -
especially your parents and their wishes for you.
My friend (our night guard) and his wife traveled to tell her
parents together about this. After some very serious questioning they were okay...they are okay with their daughter's decision. Though they in no way understand
it, but out of a desire to, allowed this couple to return on New Year's
Eve to have a worship service in their home. So my friend went with several
other Christians to have a time of worship and thanksgiving in the Muslim home
of his wife's parents in the center of "Muslim town". Praise God!
That is a Christmas Miracle...not turkey, not presents, not
even being able to share Christmas with your family. This: truly becoming a family
under God, Jesus Christ the Lord, that’s the miracle…and what Christmas is
truly about. God’s gift to us of His Son whom He knew would suffer and die the worst
of deaths that we might find new life.
A belated Merry Christmas
Lilongwe from Home
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