Don't Allow the Grinch to Steal Christmas - A True Story

While driving down a country road one

Christmas season on my daily commute,

I saw an unusal thing.

There, to the right, was a little broken

down white framed house,

with half boarded up windows that were broken,

with half of a broken front door and broken

children's bicycles in the yard.

But on that day, the front of the house

had a huge plywood painted sign that said,

"WELCOME TO WHOVILLE."

Then I noticed another plywood painting of

the Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

The artist was very good indeed.

My first thoughts of seeing the extra large vivid paintings,

were, oh, how delightful!!!

But then, after a few moments of driving down the country road, my brain registered what the artist was really conveying to the world.

Then came the pang in my heart!!!

It was so sharp and painful,

as I realized the artist was saying his family was not going to have a Christmas as others celebrated Christmas. This artist was conveying to the world, at least in my mind, no one even cares that his or her children will not be having a Christmas as other children would.

My mind immediately began trying to think of how could I help this family out.

I thought, oh, I know I can stop by there on my way home and just ask them what is it that their chilren wanted for Christmas, and I could buy them a Christmas tree with all the trimmings.

Well, on my commute back home, which is an hour both ways, darkness came early as it was the winter season. So, as I drove past the broken down little white home, I noticed it was pretty dark inside with maybe a candle on. Then that made me realize they did not have electricity. That is one thing I could do, is pay their electricity bill. What is their address? I did not see any numbers on the house. They must have fallen on hard times.

I kept on driving on to my nice warm home, and that night when I laid my head on my pillow I thanked the Lord for my warm bed and home. I asked the Lord to reveal to me what to do to help this family.

The next morning, as I drove by the home,

I noticed there were dogs in the yard and

as I slowed down, they came furiously

protecting their territory. I dare not get out.

I did not see any person at home,

so I drove on to work.

The Lord revealed to me to just pray for that family, so I did. I asked Jehovah Jire, the God who provides, to provide for that family. Every morning for a year, as I drove past that house, I prayed for that family and every night before I went to bed.

The following Christmas, I noticed the whole house lit up and there was an 18-wheeler in the yard, and new trail bikes. I noticed the broken windows were fixed and they had a new door on the front of the home.

I knew then, that the Lord had provided for that family, and the father had a job as a trucker. The one thing missing that Christmas season was the Grinch. NO, he did not steal Christmas that year.

I learned when you have no clue how to really help someone, just start praying.

All of us can pray, if nothing else!!!

As Christians, we can become complacent in our own little comfortable world until the Lord opens our eyes.

I was haunted by the scripture, "If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" I have asked forgiveness for this, as I know there was something I could have done for their physical needs. I am so thankful that God is so faithful to hear my prayers and provide. He is truly Jehovah Jire, the God who provides.

@Copyright Faith Reaper July 2012 (All rights reserved)

Here is Matthew West and his song "My Own Little World." Please enjoy.