“Thanks God
but where’s the Color TV?”
When our
children were young we would celebrate Christmas by reminding them that God
gave us His Son Jesus but also used this time as an opportunity to teach them
the value of giving to those who were less fortunate than us.
During one
Christmas season we contacted a local Women’s Shelter to see if they had anyone
who needed some help. They of course had several women who did and gave us the
contact information of a single mom who was homeless but recently found a place
to live. She had two children and had nothing. She had given the shelter a list
of items that they needed and the shelter in turn past the list on to us.
So on one afternoon we took the list and
went shopping. We bought many
items like an assortment of clothes, dishes, silverware, pots and pans, toys,
and even a couple of kid’s bikes.
We went grocery shopping and bought enough food to fully stock her
pantry for a long time. We all had a lot of fun and bought everything on her
list plus much more. One exception though, was a color TV that was on her list-that we did not buy.
With a
loaded pickup truck we showed up at this mom’s home and backed the truck up to
the front door where we were greeted by the mom and her two children. We all
pitched in and unloaded everything. Inside the home it was empty with the
exception of a small dinette set off from the kitchen. My wife Pat, took on the
kitchen and began putting dishes away and stocking the pantry. I was in the family room with my tool
box assembling various items.
After a
couple of hours we began to wrap things up and say our good byes. Then the mom
says this. “Thanks for everything but where’s the color TV”? ................
Um say what? Not sure we
said anything and we pulled out of the driveway. Down the road we went both Pat and I were silent for about 4
or 5 blocks. Then we could not hold back and the complaining and bashing was
on. Things like “Can you believe her”?
“Who does she think she is”? “Doesn’t she see that we gave her what she really
needed”? She does not appreciate this
and wants a stupid TV instead”? “Does
she have any idea how much time and money we spent on her”? On and on we went thinking the more we
bashed her that somehow it would make our own hurt feel better.
Then we
drove by a church and in the front yard was a nativity seen. Instantly I was
convicted of what it meant and in the back of mind I heard this voice saying.
“Tim so who do you think you are”? I have given to you my Son Jesus Christ as
your Savior because I love you and you needed Him. You are a sinner but He is
perfect and without sin. He gave sight to the blind, made the lame walk, spoke
with all authority, walked on water, He gave the dead life. He loved and forgave
sinners. He died for you and raised himself from the dead so you could have
life. He has always loved you and
there is nothing you have ever done or could ever do to separate yourself from
his gift of grace and love. Did I mention that He loves you? How often do you
reduce me the Holy God to a cosmic Santa Clause asking for worthless things? So do you think you can judge the
motives of this mom?
Okay, Okay- I
get it.
With those thoughts I said to Pat
that our lack of gratitude is no different than that of this single mom. Pat said
what do you mean? I explained to
her my conviction and that we celebrate this season because God has given us
everything including His most precious Son so we can be saved from sin and have
eternal life. Yet we find
ourselves being very ungrateful as well. Anytime we do not trust God and go our
own selfish way we too are saying- “Thanks God but where’s the color TV”
I have a desire to Trust and Obey God
every day and I am grateful that he loves me and has given me this great gift
of his Son. I am also reminded that even when I am a knuckle head and start to
focus on selfish desires. God still gently reminds me to have an attitude of
gratitude I need to rethink what is really important.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11 NIV
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world
through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned
already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:16-18 NIV
As you celebrate
Christmas this year remember what God has done for you by sending His Son. God
is always good and is worthy of our worship.
Merry Christmas to All!!
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