Dear Santa, Thank
You
I
am currently serving on La Crescenta Presbyterian Church’s Pastor Nominating
Committee (PNC). The church placed a Santa Claus mailbox out front. On a lark,
I wrote a quick note to Santa that read as follows: “Dear Santa, Please send us
a new pastor. Preferably a shepherd after God’s own heart” and signed it with
my name with a little PNC under it.
It
is a miracle, Santa replied. He wrote a most welcome letter, heartfelt and
hopeful, full of gratitude and humility toward the Greatest Gift Giver.
I
will let the letter speak for itself:
Rest
assured, though our journey as a committee has been long and arduous and
seasoned with a little heartbreak, we are hopeful. We know God has for us a
pastor after His own heart and he will be here in God’s own timing. And, the
Lord meets us on the way…
My
dad crafted a piece of intarsia, a work of art made from various types and
colors of wood and using little, if any, stains. The piece he made is of a
Red-tailed Hawk, my favorite bird. He signed it “For ‘Stick’ Together in His
grip”.
So
I will sign off on this post in the same way…Together in His grip.
jj
white
Facebook comment from Hazel Thornton: I hope you get your Christmas wish
ReplyDeleteThank you Hazel, I believe the wish is on the way. And I hope your Christmas brings you joy my friend.
DeleteFacebook comment from Whitney Lescher: What a beautifully written letter. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Whitney. It is just to great to keep to myself. Peace.
DeleteFacebook comment from Pat Chambers sharing the letter on 'Happy to be Presbyterian', this one from me: Thank you for sharing this letter Pat. I am happy to see this beautifully crafted response with heartfelt consideration is being shared. I've shared a link to the blog post I put up on it and our communications folks shared it as well. I smile every time I think about this and how it seems to have met me in a way I hadn't realized I needed. Peace.
ReplyDeleteHappy to be Presbyterian comment from Steve Simmons: This is lovely!
ReplyDeleteHappy to be a Presbyterian comment from Mary Lewis: A great message for all of us! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHappy to be a Presbyterian comment from Mary Sisson: As co- moderator of our PNC, one which had a setback just before Christmas, I take great hope and joy from this Santa letter. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Mary, and really, it is a good morning. Thank you for the comment you made here. I've be buoyed by the reaction to my little lark in dropping a quick line to Santa. I know you are carrying an extra burden with the moderator duties; keeping everyone involved and heard, on task and full of faith. I pray the hope and joy you received from this letter germinate into a full on revival in your committee and that this fuels a push to find the pastor called to your church. Blessings!
Delete