God Is Love: Our Favorite Advent Ever.

If I can convey even a part of what we experienced tonight, words will have surpassed their power. For tonight, for the first time, someone loved Christmas. 

This precious student that I tutor 3 days a week came over tonight thinking we were simply attending a candlelight service together. We surprised her with a beautiful dinner. The evening started with tears. Partly because she had not eaten lunch and mostly because it was all done for her and she couldn’t believe it. Honor isn’t found easily in her up-hill world.

After dinner and accolades of how proud I am of her and her decisions, she was told that there was more.

We brought her into the living room, pointed to the fireplace filled with presents and watched the tears fall as she heard that they were all for her. Total shock was followed by an enoirmous amount of tears and giggling.

The next 45 minutes brought the Waterford ladies face to face with awe-inspiring love. Bag after box were filled with good gifts. No pocket was left empty and treasures were found everywhere. We are happy to share videos and photos with those who participated in giving this child a Christmas she will never forget. (Send me a message for footage!)

If God is love, than this was a Holy Spirit encounter. We were literally on the edge of our seats, holding our breath as each gift revealed these truths to this lovely girl:

You are seen.

You are known.

You matter.

We believe in you.

You are cared for.

You are loved more than you could ever know.

And we watched as her tears fell and she fell, for the first time, in love with Christmas. It was magical and I’m humbled to have witnessed it.

She would like to say, “Thank you for loving me, for believing in me and for giving me hope.”

Your gifts were cherished. The look in her eyes as she opened them and felt the thoughtfulness, told the story of the deep capacity that we all have to be loved. A hard road softnened, for even a little while. Her heart opened and was flooded with gratitude and an overwhelming love that shook her awake to truths she’d only dreamt of. They hung in the air like a blanket of stars demanding awe and wonder.

We finished and loaded the love gifts into the trunk.

A quick stop at Starbucks set us up for the candlelight service at church. My family has spent 24 days giving to others and waiting for Jesus’ birthday to come, but He came early. Christmas has arrived and we all agreed, if we had no presents tomorrow, we have already had the best Christmas ever.

I listened to the music and heard the prophets stories told and come to pass. My heart was overjoyed the entire service because only a loving God could pull off a night like tonight. Only a loving God would decide on an earthly Birthday so He could Be the gift for all mankind. All, everyone He places in front of us.

After church we drove around to see Christmas lights and enjoyed a little more time together. We sang Christmas songs loud and faked knowing some of the words, but it didn’t matter. Love was still overflowing over the weaknesses, the hardships, the broken places and the needs. All was right in the world for those moments and we had only their embrace around us.

To those who gave: You did more than give a child some Christmas presents. You took 3 Waterford girls and their mother and offered them a front row seat to the miracle of Christmas. Before our very eyes we witnessed something beautiful and we ourselves were changed because of it. 

We couldn’t have done it on our own, but we were never called to do so. If we all Love God & Whoever He Puts In Front Of Us, I believe mankind will wake tomorrow and the next tomorrow to find that Love came, Love comes and Love will come again. This gift of Jesus has been given, but we get to give it even now, an inheritance of love.

One daughter said tonight, “Mom, I understand why you love gifts so much. The joy in giving is so much greater than the receiving.” 

One girl got a Christmas to remember and we got a Christmas we will never forget.

Thank you for following us on our advent adventures this year. We have enjoyed sharing part of our lives with you. May you and your family have a very Merry Christmas. 

We sure have.

Love God & Whoever He Puts In Front Of You 
*Monthly and sporadic adventures through the year will be posted on the blog and Whoevers In Front Of You facebook and instagram accounts only. Follow us today at http://www.whoeversinfrontofyou.com