It is the holidays, and along with the holidays come gifts. My
birthday is just a handful of days prior to Christmas, and of course,
there is Christmas Day as well. Many gifts are bought, opened, sent,
and received throughout this season.
There are things in my life, however, that have great significance;
they are gifts from heaven, which come down from the Father. I have
had several in my life, but in the last few years that I have been
away at college I have had some noteworthy one's that demonstrate
God's grace and blessings clearly: the loss of my job a couple years
ago, the loss of my boss to cancer last year, and the inability to
develop a relationship with a woman throughout the last three years.
These do not sound like perfect gifts or gifts at all, really, but
allow me to explain.
A couple years ago I was working as a 5th grade summer school
teacher. It was June when I came in to work on a Friday morning. My
boss came into my classroom 10 minutes into my shift and told me that
day would be my last. To make a long story short, that was my last
day there that summer, and I ended up working a temporary job for two
weeks, but was still without work.
During that summer I was volunteering as a drummer for the junior
high youth group at my church. The junior high worship team leader
was a friend of mine from high school youth group where we played on
the youth band together. I asked him for prayer after losing my job
and he thoughtfully kept me in his prayers that summer.
Well, praise the Lord, because the junior high youth group was going
on a summer camp near the end of the summer, and my friend called me
two weeks prior to the camp and offered me the chance to join him on
the trip and help lead the praise and worship music. By going I
would be paid to play the drums for a couple of days, plus I would
get to do what I love: work with youth.
That camp turned out to be the best week of my life. I got to play
the drums and inspire the young men and women with music. I got to
invest in the youth and their spiritual lives. I got to provide
friendship to those guys who did not have anyone to hang out with. I
got to go white-water rafting and see my guys grow and develop
courage. The list goes on and on. That week was by far the best
week of my life up until that point. Had I not lost my job earlier
that summer I would have missed out on that special week. God
allowed me to go through a rough time of uncertain financial
provision so that I could be used by him in that one spectacular
week. What a gift that was!
Following that camp I began working at my college for a professor as
his personal teacher's aid. This was key as I had made plans to
begin teaching high school upon matriculation from college. Working
as a teacher's aid I was able to begin practicing grading and
creating quizzes, mid-terms and finals, doing necessary research for
lectures, and grading papers and reports. This was a great
experience for me, not only because I developed essential skills for
the work force as a teacher, but also because I developed a wonderful
friendship with this professor. However, this friendship only lasted
so long.
My professor, although I worked for him, he was also a professor for
several of my classes within my major, was dear to me. He made sure
to show his appreciation not only of my work for him in the office
but also for work in the class. He encouraged me in my pursuit of a
teaching and writing career. He gave me a birthday and Christmas
gift. He was open about his personal life and also allowed me to go
to him with mine. He was a professor, a boss, a brother in Christ,
and most of all a friend. But after Christmas vacation, he began to
become ill.
A little longer than half a decade ago, my professor battled
melanoma. He had been in recession since then. However, it came
back in January-February of this year. It dove inward this time,
attacking his liver, lungs, and brain. By the time finals rolled
around, he had passed away.
This was a trying time for me. Not only was I suffering from the
loss of a dear friend, I also struggled with balancing his classes as
well as my own. Five other professors from the school took his work-
load, each taking one of his classes. However, I had to help each
and every one of them stay organized with the material, take charge
for all the grades and grading rather than sharing it with them, and
I also had to stay on top of my own school work and balance my life.
This was a very difficult time, yet I learned how to efficiently run
the office in an organized way.
Although I lost a friend, I was blessed to be under his leadership
for the short time that I was, and even before he passed away, I
received something very special to me, something that I do not
believe would have been given to me if he had not been battling
cancer. I went to visit him while he was on his deathbed. While
there, I received what I consider or like to call my birthright. My
professor confirmed my spiritual gifts, challenged me to lead, and
consecrated me for a life of teaching and writing. This was given
to me in a time of suffering, in a time that I needed some
confirmation, challenges, and blessing in my life. Although I was
going through many trials, God gave me a gift through my professor,
the gift of a spiritual birthright.
When I came back to school after being away for Christmas vacation, I
had no idea that I would be getting involved in a deep relationship
with a woman. Previous to that spring semester I had only been
involved in one relationship. That relationship was very unhealthy. I
had attempted at entering into another relationship that fizzled out
very quickly, in fact it really never started. I tried working at a
relationship with another woman who ended up playing my like a chess
game. It was after that time in my life that I decided not to pursue
anyone for a while. I had been hurt too much to try and felt that if
I did try it would not matter because I believed no one really wanted
me.
At a time that I did not expect, the Lord brought a very special
someone into my life. He introduced me to my present-day fiancee and
future wife. In a time that I did not plan, God planned for me to
meet this wonderful woman. And looking back even further, God used
my unhealthy relationship several years ago to bring me to where I am
today with my fiancee. As the song says, God "blessed the broken
road" and led me to my most recent, most wonderful, and most gracious
gift. Had I not gone through all those heart-breaking moments, I
would most likely never found my fiancee, which is why I say that I
did not find her, but God brought her to me, demonstrating his
abundant love, provision, and grace.
God used my circumstances--lost job, lost boss, and lost
relationships--for my own good. Although I did not understand at the
time that I was going through all of those things, I now look back
and see God's hand through it all. As the epistle of James says,
every single perfect gift comes from the Father above." And not to
mention, everything--the good times and the bad--works together for
the good of those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:28). God blessed
me through the good and the bad. He graciously gave me wonderful
gifts even when I probably did not deserve them. He gave me a
spectacular week, a spiritual birthright, and a wonderful fiancee.
All of these are perfect gifts sent to me from my Lord and Father.
Praise be to God for all the blessings and gifts he has given to me.
During this time of gifts and holidays, may we all take the time to
reflect on the special and perfect gifts that God has bestowed upon
us--especially the gift of salvation that he made available through
His Son.
Amen.
____________
Mr. Gregory
