FROM CRISIS TO CHRIST-CENTERED HOPE AND RESTORATION

 Pastor John Bohnsack
                         Development Director           

A Box Full of Kisses

There is a story about a very creative preschooler named Diane (not her real name) that has come to my attention.  Money was tight that year.  As a result, it is perhaps understandable that her father was quite upset with Diane for “wasting” a roll of gold wrapping paper.  She was simply doing her best to decorate a box to put under the tree.  Little Diane was crushed by his rebuke, but proceeded anyway with her project, motivated by a determination that was out of proportion to her young age.
 
The next morning, as gifts were being exchanged, Diane carefully picked up the bright gold clad box and brought it to her father.  Embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, he mumbled a low-key apology and proceeded to unwrap the box.  Opening it, his anger flared again when he found the box empty.  His voice was louder than he actually intended as he critically stated that she should know better than to give someone a “gift” with nothing inside of it.  Devastated by his reaction, with tears rolling down her cheeks, she shakily defended her gift by telling him the box was not empty at all.  She has blown kisses into the box, and they were all for him.  Stricken by this new information of his daughter’s love, creative intent, and thoughtful gift, he put his arms around her.  And this time his apology was deep and sincere as he asked for her forgiveness.
 
It is said that the man kept that gold box on a shelf by his desk for many years.  Whenever he needed a “pick me up” for any reason, he would open the box and take out one of those imaginary kisses.  In doing so, he would remember the love of his daughter for her father.
In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, have been given a gold clad box filled with the unconditional love of God for His children.  Though we cannot see the gold clad box with our eyes, we can see it with our hearts.  We see it with the shepherds in Luke 2 as they said to one another, let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord told us through the angels…. a baby lying in a manger, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  We see it again, not as a gift under a tree, but hanging on a tree, as John 19:18 says, “there they crucified Him”.
 
Now it is our turn to ask forgiveness for so often missing, ignoring or taking too lightly the message of God’s love.  And it is our turn to pass the message of God’s love along to others, which is exactly what you are so effectively doing through Jericho Road Ministries.
 
May God bless you abundantly for loving, caring and sharing so deeply by your gifts and prayers, flowing through JRM, to families and individuals with crisis needs.