We Took Christmas Outside our Walls

 

We're grateful that here in Austin, the weather has been kind -- well except for yesterday when our temperatures plummeted. Typically, warm days and mild nights mean those on the streets aren’t huddled in freezing corners right now. Still, warm weather doesn’t erase hunger, loneliness, or the longing to be seen.

This blog was born out of an early Christmas gathering with Carl’s family. His daughter, Amelia, invited us to celebrate before they headed to their second home in Crested Butte, Colorado. We met at Salt Traders for lunch -- good food, great conversation, photos snapped between bites -- and then we headed to their beautiful Austin home.

Amelia had an aha for our family gathering -- more than gift giving to each other -- the real gift came from her heart.

Amelia had turned her dining room table into a holy assembly line. Plastic bags stacked high. Socks. Water bottles. Easy-open tuna cans. Beef sticks. Cheese. Peanut butter bars. Nuts.

After our assembly line had successfully packed the bags, we handwrote notes to tuck into each bag. These weren’t just bags of food -- they were manna bags, reminders that someone cared enough to prepare something just for them.

It was Christmas beyond ourselves.

The next morning, Amelia’s husband, Terrell, saw a homeless man on Hwy 290. He offered the man one of the bags. After receiving it, the man wanted to give back to Terrell -- a cigarette. And then added, quite seriously, “It’s even better than that… it has embalming fluid on it.”

Terrell later laughed and said, “Maybe the prosperity gospel is alive and well. Quid pro quo (giving something for something)."

We all had a laugh -- full of thanksgiving -- not to receive but to give -- in Jesus' name. We prayed that man felt something deeper than humor. We prayed he felt dignity. Kindness. Love.

Because sometimes generosity looks like a sack lunch and a conversation. Sometimes it’s a note written by someone who will never know the reader. And sometimes the blessing comes wrapped in laughter.

Scripture says, “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9)

What if loving others doesn’t always require a grand plan? What if it just asks us to step outside our walls, notice who’s there, and offer what we have?

Turns out, Christmas travels well -- with tenderness, dignity, real-life faith and love with skin on.

#Loveisgiving #sharefood #generosity