One Solitary Life

One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty
He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never traveled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself
He was only thirty three
His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth
When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend
Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life
……One Solitary Life was adapted from a sermon by Dr James Allan Francis in "The Real Jesus and Other Sermons" (c) 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia. By way of The Daily Encourager and “Christian Voices” (christianvoices@att.net)



"Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive
whatever grievances you may have against one another,
forgive as the lord forgave you. And over all these virtues
put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."  
Colossians 3: 12-14 NIV
 
The one attribute in a person that I most admire is genuine goodness. During this recently passed holiday season, I was blessed to see many examples of Christian kindness and goodness.
 
Pulling into the crowded post office lot, I noticed a woman exiting her cars and waited momentarily to let her get out, get her door closed, and get her bearings before I pulled into the parking spot beside her. 

When I got out of my car, her face was wreathed with smiles and good will. She just glowed with Christian love. She greeted me graciously, commenting on my consideration, and we walked together chatting into the warm post office. Her goodness was genuine to me.
 
We visited an unfamiliar church on Christmas Eve with a beloved relative and were accepted as part of God's family. We received many welcoming greetings, were engaged in warm discussion by several outgoing people, were circled in fellowship for the service, and were wished "merry Christmas" over and over as we left the building. What an atmosphere of love and acceptance! Unforgettable!
 
When the Christmas card from my best high school friend did not come at the usual time, I was puzzled. I thought maybe she and her husband had moved to a retirement center. I also wondered if something had happened to her. Very close to Christmas, a warm and gentle letter from her deeply caring husband came to explain her untimely passing during the past year. The gracious consideration and caring in that letter was palpable--and that from a man struggling with loss. Tears and prayers of gratitude and blessing came quickly, and I returned his considerate letter with a kindly note.
 
I could go on with these examples, but I am sure you understand that for me the "Christmas spirit" was alive and well this year! I hope each of you have similar stories of Christian love and blessing to share with those you love!

……Mary-Ellen Grisham (meginrose@gmail.com) by way of Christian Voices