Love Finds a Way . . .

There are many words to describe Christmas, but the sweetest descriptive word is "Love"!  Our Heavenly Father tells us about Love in His Holy Word, and John 3:16 tells us because "God so loved the world--He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
I have a feeling there is probably someone who needs Love from you and me at this blessed Christmas time.

In an issue of "Guideposts" several years ago, a lady prison chaplain, Kay Goldbeck, tells of her efforts to reach out to Barbara, one of the meanest and most hateful girls ever to be held in the Women's Prison in Goochland, Virginia.
     "Her face was scarred from knifings, and her neck and arms were horribly disfigured from a bucket of lye water thrown on her in a fight.  She was so mean, even the other prisoners would have nothing to do with her.
      All of Kay's efforts to reach her seemed in vain.  One day, Kay said, 'Barbara, do you know that God loves you?' 
     'Ain't nobody loves me!'
     'But Jesus gave His life for us so that we can start new lives for ourselves.'
      She spat on the ground and glared up at Kay.  'Don't want none of that preachin' stuff.  It's all words---don't mean a thing.'  And she got up and left.
      One hot summer day during recreation time, Kay noticed Barbara standing apart from the others, as usual.  Her scarred throat looked so hot.  Kay went back to her room and found a soft, pink scarf.  As she approached Barbara, she could see the anger seething in her dark eyes and was almost afraid to go on, but she did. 
      'Barbara, the sun is so hot, and your neck looks so sensitive, let me pin this little piece of silk around your neck to protect you from the sun.'  She fastened it with a gold pin.
      Barbara said nothing, but it looked as if a tear came into her eyes.  But she stomped her foot, gritted her teeth, and spat on the ground.
      But it was the beginning of a changed relationship.  Barbara had found that 'preachin' wasn't all just words---that love reached out and cared enough to share a little pink scarf.  Eventually, Barbara became a Christian, accepting God's love; and after her release from prison, became a county supervisor of all the nursing homes for the elderly in a mid-western state.
      Love finds a way -- sometimes by way of a piece of pink silk -- but always some way that bridges the gap."

Perhaps you know someone today who needs a "piece of pink silk".  Christmas is loving!  Christmas is giving!  And Jesus said -- "It is more blessed to give than receive!"