Lion and Lambs

In one of my favorite devotional books, A Gentle Spirit, the Christmas entry was written by Emilie Barnes. She titled it “The True Christmas Spirit”, but I thought it would be a great way to start the new year, with our focus on other people.

“Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NIV

Markham wrote a poem based on a story by Tolstoy. One night Conrad, a cobbler of shoes, dreamed that Christ would come to his shop on the following day. All morning he waited, but the only visitor was an old man who asked him if he might sit down to rest. Conrad put the best pair of shoes in the shop on the old man’s feet. Throughout the afternoon the only person he saw was an old woman struggling under a heavy load. Out of compassion he brought her in and gave her some of the food he had prepared for Christ. Just as evening was falling, a lost child entered Conrad’s shop. Conrad carried the child home.

Finally in disappointment the old cobbler cried:
“Why is it Lord that your feet delay?
Did You forget that this was the day?”
Then soft in the silence a voice he heard:
“Lift up your heart for I kept My word.
Three times I came to your friendly door;
Three times My shadow was on your floor.
I was the beggar with the bruised feet;
I was the woman you gave to eat;
I was the child on the homeless street!”

May you find the joy of sharing with others in need, then every day can be a holy day.