MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE HAIRE'S

I'm kind of a sucker for those Christmas stories where gifts show up at the last minute to make the day special.  I love the one from 'Little House On the Prairie" where Mr. Edwards shows up almost frozen with tin cups and candy for the girls.  I also love the old 'Walton's' movie where the father makes it home at the last minute with a big bag over his shoulder and simple gifts for each family member.  Last night we watched a mini-movie on Pure Flix about a poor family who was trusting the Lord for a package to arrive before Christmas.  Lo and behold, numerous crates arrived after the post office closed.  In the midst of a blizzard the postal worker and his son delivered the crates to a family that was praying and trusting.

We have our own story that has some parallels.

In our younger years, we were not very financially stable.  I attended seminary in Pittsburgh part-time for over ten years.  It was expensive.  Then, after graduating, I attended Franciscan University for a second Master's degree.  Unfortunately, my pay was never adjusted to reward all the education I had attained.  I remember after getting a fifteen dollar-a-week raise one year, a friend commented that I could now buy a pizza every week.  :-)  Add to the mix raising three kids and being unwise financially, and we had some tight times.  I suppose many others have faced similar situations.

Like our own parents, Debbie and I didn't buy a lot for our kids during the year;  but Christmas was a time for delivering everything they would need for the next twelve months.  So, as a result, we tended to spend a good bit in December.

I should note here that God was repeatedly faithful to us in regards to our finances.  We have quite a few stories of His deliverance for us at critical times!  We have been and are grateful to God for His bountiful and timely financial provisions!  We're also thankful that today we are more stable and need His help in other areas...

One year was particularly difficult for us.  Two years earlier, we had sold our house because we were told we were being moved.  We didn't move!  We had to rent a house three blocks away and move everything we owned!  Then, after a year, our landlord sold that house and we had to move again!  We were given access to a massive house with four huge columns and three full stories!

We affectionately nicknamed this house:  MANIAC MANSION!  After getting our first gas bill, I went to the basement and shut off one of the two furnaces.  Travis lived in a back section - where the kitchen was - that remained heated .  The rest of our bedrooms were in the main part of the house with minimal heat.  Debbie and I woke up one morning and our bedroom was forty degrees!

As we approached December, we had very few gifts purchased and were without reserves to see us through.  Needless to say, we had cast our need before the Lord and were looking for (and hoping for) His provision.

As was our custom, we were having our evening meal together in our massive dining room.  This was a special time for our family when we caught up on one another's days and shared stories and laughter.  We often spent upwards to an hour together around that table.  [Today, Tracie's family eats around that old Haire-loom oak table every evening!]  ;-)

In the midst of our meal, we heard a knock at our front door.  I got up to answer the door but found no one there.  I looked up-and-down Fifth Street - no one in sight!  That's when I noticed the envelope taped to our door!  I removed it and returned to the table where I opened it and read it to our family.  It simply said:  "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE HAIRE'S!"

That's when ten crisp, new, one-hundred-dollar bills fell out of the envelope!  My jaw dropped and our kids eyes popped in disbelief!  Was this a dream?  Could these be real?  They were real!  All ten of them!  Christmas was going to happen at the Haire house without going into further debt!  Hallelujah!

Like so many other similar gifts that God sent along, we never found out who His messenger was.  But we thanked God for them and for their obedience and generosity!

Of course, we explained our need to our three T's and then explained how Debbie and I had entrusted our need to God in prayer.  Then we explained that God had heard our prayer and answered it!  And, of course, we lifted a prayer of gratitude to God together!

Interesting, I don't remember any of the gifts we bought for the kids that year.  But I sure do remember God's kindness to our little family.  He loved us then;  He loves us still.

If you have a need of any kind, get into a right relationship with God and then cast your cares on Him.  He loves you and will answer your prayer and meet your need!  Have a blessed Christmas!