At this time of year, the Christmas Season, I need to be reminded of the wonderful gift of giving.  I hope this will remind you also.   In the late 70’s, I was attending Seminary in Atlanta at Candler School of Theology and serving the New Hope United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Georgia. My wife and I were blessed with two sons, Jody and Pat.  Jody was a typical fourth grader who was more interested in play than learning.  You have probably heard the adage:  “He did not allow books to get in the way of his education.”  This was Jody.  He always had something more important to do than study.

His fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Orr, was a member of the church and on occasion she would tell me on Sunday morning on the way out of church that she needed to talk to me about Jody.  On this particular Sunday when Mrs. Orr came by to shake hands and tell me I had preached a good sermon, she instead said, “I need to talk to you about Jody.”   My first thought, of course, was “What has he done or not done this time?”  So I finished greeting the congregation and proceeded to talk to Mrs. Orr about my problem child.

Mrs. Orr was at our usual place of Parent/Teacher Conference which was under the big oak tree in the Church parking lot.   I was rather surprised when she told me her concern about Jody.  She asked me if I knew Jody was giving away his lunch money.  Of course, I had no clue.  Mrs. Orr explained that he was giving his lunch money to a little girl in his class.  I thanked her for telling me about his generosity and went across the road to the parsonage where the family was waiting on me for lunch.

At the lunch table, I asked Jody why he was giving away his lunch money to a little girl.   Was this some new girl friend that his mother and I did not know about?  Of course, I am saying this with tongue in cheek.  But I soon realized that this matter was much more serious than puppy love.  Jody, with a very serious tone in his voice, began to explain to the family why he was giving his lunch away.  He shared with us that this little girl was from a very poor family and that she had no money to eat on.  The statement that brought tears to our eyes was:  “Dad, I just couldn’t eat knowing she did not have anything to eat.  So I gave her my lunch, and I have bought her lunch since then.”

What do you say to a fourth grader who was doing what you preached Jesus did and would have you do?  What I did was say:  “Jody, I am very proud of you, and I will give you extra money everyday to help out.”

It seems that children have a better understanding of the truth of God than most adults.  He had put his belief into practice.  I was reminded of the fact that is what God expects of us all.  Ever since that day when I see a need, I am reminded of Jody and his lunch guest at school.  If I have the ability to meet the need then I know that God is calling me to act.  Advent is a time when we are reminded of the first coming of Jesus and to anticipate His Second Coming.  I want to be prepared to meet Him whenever He comes or whenever I go to Him.  Service to others is the best way I know to live like Him.   Today at forty, Jody still has that same heart of service.  He is a pastor in the United Methodist Church; and as a shepherd of God’s sheep, he gives himself to the task of service.  Let’s join him and live for Jesus by serving others.

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