The holidays have come and gone in rapid fashion. In classic ESPN style, I couldn’t help but do a “TOP TEN” list of activities and events from this past Christmas season. Moments of Church services, faces of my kids, time with my wife all raced through this very unofficial “Top Ten” list. As I came to the TOP SPOT, I couldn’t help but remember Dylan.
Dylan is your normal 8th grader at Parkside Middle School in Manassas with great grades and a quiet personality. Life seems to be normal with a 10th grade brother and mother all trying to survive the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season. However, this Christmas was a little different. They were gearing up to celebrate their last Christmas with their terminally ill mother who only has a few months remaining in her life due to cancer. With hospital bills flowing in, money was tight and Christmas gifts would be a challenge.
As I was introduced to his need, it was the pleasure of my life to employ all the resources of the One Another Ministry of Grace Covenant Church to serve this amazing family. Within a few days Dylan and his entire family were flooded with gifts that would make this heart breaking season one of hope and peace in the midst of so much heart ache and sadness.
This moment with Dylan and his family freshly reminded me of this powerful gift of Jesus in the midst of our terminally ill condition. We were destitute, broken, falling to our death and needed someone to offer their life to break our fall. Jesus was that gift to each of us, Dylan’s on the earth.
Let us live out our 2012 with fervor and endurance for the gift so bountifully and scandalously given for us!
