Give with compassion as you see the “Image of God” in each
individual
By Pastor-Chaplain
Ryan Edgecombe, Broadwell Christian Church and The Christian
Village
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[December 19, 2022]
“When soft in the silence a voice he heard,
“Lift up your head for I kept My word. Three times my shadow crossed
your floor. Three times I came to your lonely door. For I was the
beggar with the bruised, cold feet. I was the woman you gave
something to eat. I was the child on the homeless street.” Three
times I knocked, and three times I came in, and each time I found
the warmth of a friend. Of all of the gifts, love is the best, I was
honored to be your Christmas Guest.” |
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 These beautiful words are from the poem, “The
Christmas Guest” by Helen Steiner Rice.
This well-known work tells the story of a lonely man who has been
told that the Lord is coming to his house for Christmas. He is so
excited and hasn’t been this happy in a long time. He had worked
hard and with great enthusiasm in getting ready for this Holy visit.
While he is waiting on his Lord, he has the opportunity to provide
help and hospitality to three different individuals in need. He
provided shoes and a coat for one, a place to rest and food for
another, and helped a lost child find their way home at the end of
the story. The man is discouraged when Christmas is over, and The
Lord never arrived. As you can see from the above excerpt, The Lord
did come in each of those three individuals and found love and
compassion!
What a great ending!
As we all know Christmas is a time of giving, a time of generosity,
and a time of compassion. It seems that our hearts get a little
bigger and a little more open during this time of year. There is a
lot of good that is done around Christmastime, and this is something
that we should all be thankful for and try to participate in.
You may have an opportunity to reach out to someone who may be less
fortunate than you this holiday season. I hope you take that
opportunity and I hope you give as if you are giving to The Lord.
There happens to be a Scripture connected to this concept: Matthew
25:34, 35, and 40. “Then the King will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the
kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was
hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you
gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes, and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked
after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Truly I tell
you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and
sisters of mine, you did for me’.”
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My encouragement-wish for you this Christmas Season
is simply this… Give with generosity for Christ has come, died, and
risen for everyone. Give with compassion as you see the Image of God
in each individual. Give with thanksgiving in response to the
greatest gift of all… the Gift of the Incarnation.
May our giving hearts be an act of worship that gives glory to The
Christ.
Amen.
Merry Christmas from The Christian Village and from Broadwell
Christian Church,
Ryan Jay Edgecombe Chaplain/Pastor
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