A Christmas Story

[Freebird]

Well if Fred can look for a date, I figure I can share a litte uncontroversial story with you. I just told it to another friend a few minutes ago, and I thought of some of you.

I went to Florida to spend time with new friends and family for Christmas. Unfortunately, things had taken a hard turn for the worse at home, and this may prove to be the last time this will happen for us as a family.

Christmas Eve Sunday we all decided to go to church to celebrate the reason for the season. My brother suggested we go to his church, I suggested we go to our father's church and sit as a family as to surprise our Dad at his church.

Upon arrival, the cell rang and it was Dad asking if we were up yet. We said we were in the parking lot of his church. He then said he would not be at church that day. I asked my brother if it was too late to go to his church, he said it was. I suggested we just go inside as planned.

Upon being seated, my wife and I noticed the preacher's name on the church bulletin. It was Walter Davis. We both thought of a preacher from TN by that name who pastored a church we attended shortly after we were married some 14 years ago. We went to church one Sunday, and found that he had left due to some sort of silly dispute with some deacons. We both thought of how funny it would be if it were our beloved preacher from better days now gone by.

Low and behold, our preacher walked to the pulpit! I was simply overwhelmed at the irony of having found him after such a long time. He spoke of how God chose "good ole' boys" as those who would witness Jesus' birth. He explained that had Jesus been born among the Biblical scholars, they would have spent all their time debating over whether this was a fulfillment of phrophecy and other technical issues rather than simply acknowledging God's gift to mankind. I hate to admit it, but I thought of this forum.

He extended an invitation after the sermon to anyone who wanted to join the church or share a Christmas prayer with him. I held my wife's hand and said "let's go talk to Walter and God", she declined. My excitement turned to disappointment. We had been given an unbelieveable chance to speak with someone who we both had admired for many years, but we missed it. In retrospect, I wish I had gone alone. Looks like I have been more alone than I thought.

After the service ended, I went to him and shook his hand. Michelle accompanied me. When I took his hand, I told him the last time I had shaken his hand we were in Knoxville, TN. I told him at that time he was the only preacher besides my grandfather I would drive 30 miles, the distance from our home, to hear preach. Now I have driven 700 to find you here in Winter Haven, FL after 14 years. He was speechless and insisted we speak with his wife. We had a little reunion of sorts as he asked to see our son who had been born since we last met. When Michelle left to retrieve him from the nursery, I told him Michelle and I were having severe problems as the reason Michelle had handed him a note with her phone number earlier. He said he would help us in any way he could. I told him you have already helped me just by being here.

We all talked and laughed util someone starting turning the lights off. Then we all walked to the parking lot only to find I had parked next to his car! This was a large church with two parking lots. I suppose it was much more than fate that brought us together like that. Looks like I have somehting else to look forward to when I return to Winter Haven.

I just want to thank all of you who have shared your thoughts and feelings with me over the last few months. I never expected this forum to bring the kind of friendship it has given with people all over this great country. And I never thought that anything like this would be the result of me buying a Hatteras Yacht. It has been said that God works in mysterious ways, and it is with nervous anticipation to see what's next.

Good Night my friends.

 

[hunshatt]

Touching, not like your normal drivel...............(just trying to score good guy points with the powers that zapppppppppppppp

Thuddddddddddd

 

[captddis]

Randy,
The Lord works in mysterious ways! Sometimes things are more than coincidences. Next to the loss of a child, nothing is more stressful than divorce. My parents split when I was 12 and it effects everyone. Try to keep your sanity. I hope it all works out. Dave

 

[Starman]

I like reading some of the "freebird" rants.

We all need a laugh now and then.

I also belive that when an "outspoken" person tells of a story such as this one in a public venue we can see that they, as all of us, have many sides.

Sincerity is hard to hide !

 

[Boatsb]

Yeah but you didnt tell everyone you had dinner the night before with some Jewbans to cover the other options too.

All kidding aside the Randy I met may be a kidder but he is a real person with real family. Its good that everyone on the forum can see this now and understnd you better.

Maybe this will pervent you from falling asleap next to garbage trucks.

 

[CARL GUZMAN]

It made me get the kleanex Randy good one.....

The holy spirit must be among us this season I just recived this other story from a friend in e-mail and is very touching as Randys story I felt I should share it..
It really made me think...

Psalm 55:22 --- you really need to read this.

"Friends are God's way of taking care of us."

This was written by a Hospice of Metro Denver physician.
I just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and wanted to
share it with my family and dearest friends:
I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on
Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I
barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over.
Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.

When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than
that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with
dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and
I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.

At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the
ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a
car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.

I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept
saying "I don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that
things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, "And you were
praying?"

That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a
crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."

I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she
could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the
next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates
for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the
car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and
talking a little.

She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left
2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she
wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had
finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years.
They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to
get on her feet there.

So she packed up everything she owned in the car She told the kids they
were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live
there.

I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for
safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you
like an angel or something?"

This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels
are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."

It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course,
you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home
with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect
the mechanic won't find anything wrong.

Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter
of their wings...

Psalms 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He
shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

My instructions were to pick four people that I wanted God to bless,
especially for the months in 2006 , and I picked you.

This prayer is powerful and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one
another.

Here is the prayer:

"Father, I ask You to bless my children, grandchildren, friends, relatives
and e-mail buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of
your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at
this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy.
Where
there is self doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace, In
Jesus' precious name. Amen."

When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, "Jesus, could You please
get that for me?"

Being blessed is GOOD...being HIGHLY FAVORED is best

copy and share it as I did, hopfully it will help us all come together.....

 

[Freebird]

Randy,
The Lord works in mysterious ways! Sometimes things are more than coincidences. Next to the loss of a child, nothing is more stressful than divorce. My parents split when I was 12 and it effects everyone. Try to keep your sanity. I hope it all works out. Dave

Me, keep my sanity? Guess I should have posted this one first. 10-4 on the mysterious ways.

My parents "grew up" and left home when I was 17. I've been on my own ever since. I will not subject my son to what they subjected me to. I wish that was the end of that story.

Trust me, if any of you guys think you have heard it all as to dysfunctional families, you haven't. PM me if you want to feel better about yours.

I'm no quitter, and I am sure there will be good times ahead. There have been many doors opened to me (many as a result of this forum) to take the place of the one that is being slammed in my face. My entire life is just one example after another of being in the right place at the right time. Hopefully that trend will continue and I will be able to look at current events as a positive thing that lead me to a better place. Here's to 2007!

 

[Freebird]

Maybe this will pervent you from falling asleap next to garbage trucks.

Okay, for the less informed, let me explain the reference to garbage trucks in this and other threads. I've had several requests for clarification to these references.

Steve 67hat34c parked his loud "mufflerless" boat next to Scott boatsb so we could hang out together when I went down to join them for the Christmas boat parade in Cocoa Beach, FL.

Scott and I were sleeping on his boat when Steve cranked his up! Steve kids Scott about Scott's boat being loud. Hey, people with glass mufflers.....

Any way, when I got up and went outside, I told Steve he had awakened me from a dream when he started his boat. I told him I had been dreaming I was back in my old mobile home and some guy outside my door had started his garbage truck.

Now you have it. Now who says this side of the forum has no educational value.