The first Christmas I spent away from my family was also my first Christmas walking with the Lord. I was living in Needham, Massachusetts. Having grown up in the deep south, my assignment to Boston out of college couldn’t have been more exotic if it’d been Mars.
I arrived in early October. The beauty of the colored leaves intoxicated me. I loved the quaint town with its mixture of Victorian houses and small clapboard homes. The locals’ accents fascinated me. One student, named Barbara O’Conner, introduced herself as “Barba-er O’Connah.”
My ministry team consisted of seven young single men and women. We became fast friends.
I’d planned to return home for Christmas. But our national director asked everyone to remain at his or her assignment to prepare for the conference that began the day after Christmas.
The Lord prepared my heart for this change in plans. I was actually excited to experience a New England Christmas. Since Boston winters were much colder than Savannah winters, I wanted the perks of a New England Christmas. I asked the Lord for a white Christmas.
Boston natives groaned at my mention of snow. “We don’t want to travel in snow,” they said. So, I asked the Lord to grant my friends safe travel and then bring snow.
Christmas Eve arrived with no hint of snow. The guys on our team came over to our house, and we laughed late into the night. At 2 a.m., I climbed into bed—still no sign of snow.
Christmas morning my housemate Candi padded into my bedroom and wished me a Merry Christmas. “You wanna see our white Christmas?” I joked.
I lifted the shade and gasped. Six inches of marshmallow cream glistened in the morning sun—a living Christmas card!
We squealed and rushed to dress. The guys showed up with sleds, and we romped like kids.
A widow, who’d hosted my housemate and me in her beautiful Victorian home before we’d found our house, joined us for dinner. My first turkey smelled and tasted amazing. In the evening, we gathered in our small living room and thanked God for His gift of Jesus and His forever family. It was a holy moment.
Instead of feeling homesick being hundreds of miles away from friends and family, I felt full and loved. God granted not only the desires of my heart, He protected my friends’ travel.
Instead of feeling homesick being hundreds of miles away from friends and family, I felt full and #loved. God granted not only the desires of my heart, He protected my friends’ travel. #RechargeWednesday Click To TweetPerhaps not bringing expectations into Christmas that year freed me to recognize and enjoy the treasures that matter most. And God granting me a perfect white Christmas reminded me that He knows and cares about my heart’s desires.
“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NIV)
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LINKUP is open! Maybe this year's Christmas comes with unmet expectations... maybe even disappointments. This week, my friend @DebbieWWilson shares about God's love and care through it all. Join us & share your blog! Click To Tweet
Thank you for sharing this sweet story of God’s care!
Barbara, remembering that time still warms my heart!
Deb, I enjoyed this sweet story as I live north of Boston 🙂 As I look out the window, there is currently a thin blanket of snow covering our backyard, and I truly love the beauty. I love how God spoke to you so preciously through His delivery of a white Christmas. Blessings!
Joanne, I haven’t been back in decades. I’ve always wanted to. That was a magical year for me. Enjoy your snow!
Love this southerner’s eye view of New England!
Michele, I loved the beautiful change of seasons. But winter was way too cold and long for this Southern gal!
Love this post, Deb. Such a picture of the gospel: we empty our hands of everything – including expectations – and we can receive. I LOVE the snow! Thank you for sharing and for the linkup.
Karen, you’re right. It is a picture of the gospel and of everyday surrender that’s required to fully enjoy Jesus. I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks!
This is a good lesson for me to hear, especially this year when I won’t get to be with my extended family like I normally do every single Christmas. Thanks for sharing this encouraging story, Debbie!
Lisa, may your Christmas turn out to be as special as mine was that year. God often seems to reveal treasures hidden in our disappointments when we trust Him.
Debbie, thanks for sharing your story in Boston…a living Christmas card! The Lord surely cares about the things that bring us joy in Him and in life.
Karen, He does! I love those times when He delivers our seemingly unimportant desires.
Such a sweet encouraging story, Debbie! I have relatives in Boston and laughed at your experience there for he first time! Thank you!
Do they drop “r”s and add them in other places? LOL Thanks, Donna.
I read this story in the morning and am just now commenting- but I thought of it throughout the day and smiled every time. He cares about the little things! Happy advent, Debbie!
He does! Thank you, Bethany. I hope you enjoy this season too.
This line stood out to me: “Perhaps not bringing expectations into Christmas that year freed me to recognize and enjoy the treasures that matter most.” I plan to approach this Christmas season in the same way. Not bringing expectations just enjoying the treasures that matter most. P.S. How’s “Barba-er O’Connah.”
🙂 I hope your Christmas turns out as special as that one did for me. Thanks, Yvonne.
Thank you Debbie for sharing this sweet story of feeling God’s love. And thank you for hosting Patricia!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks, Marielle.
Thank you for sharing that beautiful story. God cares about the big things and the little things.
This is so good. I love the strategy of entering into Christmas this year with no expectations. I have no doubt that entering this season without demands and simply letting God guide it where he wants it to go is best. Now, to fully embrace this attitude.
Jed, I’ve found that to help in so many areas and relationships. Thanks for reading.