My Christmas miracle makes me sing God’s praises
The turkey and dressing? Devoured.
Gifts? Unwrapped, oohed and aahed over, and all of the wrapping paper lying in happy, messy piles.
It was several years ago on Christmas Day. Christmas afternoon, specifically. The scene was at my grandmother’s house, and all the family was assembled. Christmas Day has always been an extra-special family time for all of us. But in the midst of all of that joy and happiness, something was gnawing at my consciousness, trying to get an audience with my full attention.
I found a quiet spot (no easy task, I assure you) and tried to listen to that little voice inside. After a few minutes, I was pretty sure I understood the message: The family festivities are over, everyone is happy, but what am I supposed to do with the rest of the day?
Christmas Day is at once the most wonderful and the very loneliest time of the year.
For those blessed with family, health and peace, there is no day quite like it. But for those in hospitals or nursing homes, it can often be the most agonizing day of the year.
As I thought on this, I was beginning to see the outlines of a good afternoon forming in my brain. Little did I know just how good. Good? Scratch that. Looking back, I would have to go with words like amazing, stupendous and even supernatural.
I got the family together and told them what I was thinking. There was instant agreement. I grabbed the guitar, laid it in the trunk, and soon we were heading to the hospital. We did not personally know anyone in there, but that did not matter.
When we arrived, we went up to the floor that I knew housed people who were likely to be there a while, people who may, in fact, either never get out or get out only to go to a nursing home. I uncased the guitar, and we began to go room by room singing Christmas carols. We knew we could only sing one or two per room if we expected to get to everyone.
Our family at that time would be considered average singers, and I am no better than an average guitar player. While I one day hope to be discovered by a major publisher for my books, I am under no illusion that I will ever be discovered by a record label for my decidedly unprofessional musical talent.
Nonetheless, we average, everyday folks began to see smile after smile as we warbled through “Silent Night,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and more.
But one room we walked into changed everything for me. The memory lingers on in my mind all these years later like the finest perfume; it became my very own Christmas miracle.
As we entered the room, there was an elderly lady lying very much unresponsive in bed. Her eyes were open, but she was staring straight ahead. Her family, themselves easily in their 60s, were gathered around her.
As we sang, the old lady in bed began to sing softly along with us in a cracked, dry voice. The son, standing by her, began to sob and, admittedly, I had no idea why. Surely, I thought, our singing isn’t quite that bad!
We finished our singing in that room, said our “Merry Christmases” and left to go to the next room. But we didn’t get far. The son followed us out into the hallway and said, “Mister, I don’t know who you are, but thank you. That is the first time we have heard my mother’s voice in months. She has not been able to utter a word or make a sound, and we thought we would never get to hear her voice again on this side of heaven.”
We went right back into that room, friends. We sang every Christmas song we have ever known and even some that only loosely qualify as Christmas songs. I think the only thing we left out, for obvious reasons, is “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” I wanted to soak in every second of that Christmas miracle.
People who for whatever reason seemed determined to convince me that there was not and is not now a very real Jesus are wasting their time. In addition to the overwhelming mountain of historical and biblical proof of his virgin birth, sinless life, death on the cross and resurrection, I have my very own Christmas miracle to think back on.
If no one has told you yet, allow me to be the first: Merry Christmas!
Bo Wagner is pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church of Mooresboro, N.C., a widely traveled evangelist and the author of several books available on Amazon and at www. wordofhismouth.com. Email him at 2knowhim@ cbc-web.org.