I just read a heart-warming story of a young Black man named Jamal and an elderly White woman named Wanda. In 2016 she sent her “supposed” grandson a text inviting him to Thanksgiving Dinner. Jamal wasn’t sure it was his grandma texting him, so he asked for a picture to confirm. When he received a picture he was quite amused and said, “You’re not my grandma” with a laughing emoji and his own picture. Well they got together anyway and seven years later, they are still having Thanksgiving together. Soon there will be a Netflix movie called, “The Thanksgiving Text.”
To me, this is what the Holiday Season is all about — opening your heart. Unfortunately, too often we spend the other 10 ½ months of the year closing and barricading our hearts. We contend about politics, race, immigration, sports, chores and a myriad of other things. Thank goodness we have the Holidays to temper the contention and cater to the peaceable side of humanity. After all Christ our Savior is known as the Prince of Peace.
A famous country singer, Collin Raye, sang about a boy trying to win the heart of a girl, but she thought they were just too different. In an effort to convince her, the chorus goes, “I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry and I know you do the same things too, so we’re really not different, me and you.”
The song continues, “She could hardly argue with his pure and simple logic.” Well, neither can I. We can let this Christmas Season be one full of love to everyone, no matter what our differences may be. Let it be full of forgiveness, generous giving and gracious receiving. May we open our hearts to making new friendships, renewing old ones and mending those broken.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Christ is the reason for the season.” Yes He is! He is the Great Healer. And as much as I am a Grinch about listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, let’s let it fill the airwaves now!
Two great songs I encourage everyone to listen to which share this message of opening our hearts are “Let Him In” by Michael McLean and my favorite, “Come Make a Place in Me” by the gospel singers Ernie Haase & Signature Sound.
May I close with that chorus: “Come make a place, the shape of your love alone. Come make a place, come make my heart your home. Jesus I’m empty without you, and you’re everything I need. So come with your grace, come make a place in me.”
As we make a place for Him in our hearts, we will feel the peace that He offers during this season and always.
– by Clint Albrecht
Feature image caption: Jamal, a Black man, and the White woman he affectionately calls, “Grandma.” Courtesy Jamal Hinton/Twitter.