Tuesday, December 21, 2010

By Their Fruits (or Gifts) Ye Shall Know Him

For the past year, I have prayed like never before. It has been the hardest year of my life.

Since I was 20, I have felt very secure in my choice of religion, but during the past year I have found myself questioning. I guess most people would if given my circumstances. I felt faithless and I have been ashamed of myself.

Nonetheless, I have persevered in prayer. I have remained obedient, even when I felt like my prayer wasn't being answered. I kept asking God to reaffirm my faith. I love God with all my heart and I would never want to dishonor Him by following an untrue path. But, for months I felt like He wouldn't answer my prayer. I wasn't sure why.

The other night Sophia kept ringing a jingle bell and we asked her to stop because she was driving us crazy. She said ever so nonchalantly while ringing the bell to her own ear instead of ours, "What? I don't hear anything. Remember, we don't believe in Santa. This should not be annoying you." Thank you Polar Express.

Well, lately, I have felt like a non-believer. No matter how much I wanted to hear the bell jingle, it just wasn't working. Others will say that it's not true because I have always believed, but really, I wasn't hearing what I felt like I should be.

Well, tonight I wouldn't be more convinced of an answer to prayer if God himself arrived on my doorstep.

It has been said that God does his mighty works through other people.
It has also been said that "by their fruits, ye shall know them."

Well, this Christmas, the works have come. And they keep coming. I can't make them stop.

We have had so many anonymous gifts left at our door, that I have completely lost track. We have also had friends who have tried to pretend that their kids just wanted to get our kids something for Christmas. We have had other friends bring stockings fully stuffed for every one of our children. Every gift has been equally thoughtful and equally appreciated. It has been totally humbling, yet wondrous to behold.

The climax of the giving came the other night when while one friend was making a delivery, another friend doorbell ditched with more gifts and a gift-card.

Tonight, was the clincher for me. Someone left us a bag of multiple gift cards and some treats. They left us $40 in Chuck E Cheese bucks, a $50 movie card, and $50 to our favorite local used book store. My kids were going absolutely nuts. It's been a hard year for them too, and this was just too much at once. It was like Christmas wasn't even big enough to contain their excitement.

I had to walk back out to the van to cry. I didn't want my family to see me lose it.
And lose it, I did. I poured my heart out to God and thanked Him with all my might.

I thanked Him for His love, and for watching over us. I thanked Him to be surrounded by such wonderful friends. And I mostly thanked Him for finally giving me my answer.
If my church wasn't true, why would the people I surround myself with have such wonderful works?

Now, I also know that I have some wonderful Non-Mormon friends who may have been part of this Gold Christmas miracle, and for them I am also grateful. But, tonight, while I read the card with the aforementioned gift, I knew God was telling me that He has let me struggle, so that He could show forth His power, which lies in the people's hearts...His love is a living force for good.

And let me tell you something. That love and power is described as light because there is no other way to describe it. It's warm. It's invigorating. It's mighty. It's the giver of life. It's all-encompassing. The only way to receive it, is to let it consume you.

And after the crappiest year ever, and the months and months of prayers of mighty supplication, I all of the sudden found myself surrounded by the light. In fact, I was the light. In every direction I looked, all I could see was good. All I could see was love. And all I could see was the face of God. With a smile. It seemed to say, "I'm so proud of you for sticking in there Alice. Now go to Chuck E Cheese and enjoy some downtime."

Oh, and, "Be still and know that I am God."

5 comments:

ShEiLa said...

That is how God works... he will not help unless asked. And he has heard your prayers. Then it is up to the rest of us to listen to the promptings and help where we can. I am so thankful that God hears our prayers and through acts of his children he answers.

May our Heavenly Father continue to bless the Gold family... always.

ToOdLeS.

Here is a little poem I wrote like 15+ years ago.

For the Lord to answer prayer,
Earthly angels listen with care.
To hear the call sent from above.
To spread kind acts and deeds of love.

Life on Earth is but a test,
By earthly angels we are blest.
When times of trial we do face,
For secret prayer we find a place.

The Lord will hear our humble plea,
He will send light for us to see.
The pathway that is clear and bright,
So we can make it through the night.

Most of us thought angels lived in heaven,
A different knowledge we have been given.
For ours whose lives have been touched by those,
Who wear not white, but plain street clothes.

Merry Christmas!!!

Lovable Lies Family said...

I am so glad that you guys are having a "good" Christmas. It's about time you are able to enjoy life a little!
Isn't God amazing? He just knows us so perfectly!

Jenny Lynn said...

Alice, I am so happy for you and for the wonderful angels that surround you. I have prayed for you many times this year as I have read your blog. You are amazing, the acts of kindness just show how special you are to everyone.

May you have a Very Merry Christmas!!!

Marilyn said...

Thank you for your beautiful reaffirming message. There have been times this past few months that I wondered if God was listening to me. And why do I have to have so much to bear right now? I know that He is watching and listening and working on His timetable, not mine! Merry Christmas & thank you again.

Klin said...

I would just like to say "Amen" to your beautiful testimony.