As Christmas approaches this year, the Martins have much to be grateful for and much to celebrate. Jerry and Gemie still live in our home in Plano, Texas which we moved to in 1986. Half our children live within two hours of us. That includes 11 of our 24 grandchildren. We get to visit the other children and grandchildren on a regular basis thanks to modern modes of travel and communications. We count our children’s spouses as extra special children of ours which we have been blessed with. We love each wonderful member of our family!
One of our
most favorite traditions is decorating for the Christmas holiday. We attempt to make things look festive, while
at the same time being sure to center our décor around our Savior and the
miracle of His birth over two millennia ago.
Much of what we set out in our living areas is our collection of crèches depicting the Nativity.
Large or small, each Nativity scene has a special meaning to us. The one pictured here is especially
meaningful. This paper mache crèche was made by an orphanage in India. We recently saw one just like it in the gift
shop at the Dallas Arboretum. The
proceeds from the sale of these special crèches go to the orphanage where they
are made. Ours had been delivered to us
as a gift for our patronage. The
children in this orphanage have been rescued from a life that had little
hope. Many have remarkable stories of
rehabilitation and success.
The Nativity
picture reflected in the mirror above the crèche, was given to us by generous
friends. It was a happy accident (not
intentional) that it ended up in this picture.
When we look at our crèches, they cause us to marvel at the
wonder of our Savior’s birth, our ultimate Christmas gift from a loving
Heavenly Father. This particular crèche, from India, also reminds us of the charge we have been given
to look out for our “neighbors,” those who have need of our help.
There are so
many opportunities for us to help others.
Some are obvious and end up presenting themselves to us as happened in
the parable Jesus told of the Good Samaritan (see Luke: 10). In this parable, “a certain man fell among
thieves,” and was beaten and left to die. While others of his faith and
community passed by the injured man giving no assistance, the man who came to
his aid was a man from Samaria, considered an enemy by the Jewish people. It was this Samaritan man who felt compassion
for his Jewish neighbor and went out of his way to give the needed help.
We became
the recipients of much needed help this summer while traveling in a remote area
in Montana. We found ourselves with a
flat tire and no services nearby. We
will forever be grateful to a man named Remington who came to our rescue. He removed our flat tire, then took it and
patched it before returning it to us and putting it back on our car. He refused any type of payment for his good
deed. He even supplied us with a can of
“Fix-a-Flat,” to keep with us for the remainder of our trip.
At one time,
we owned the best collection of Lincoln Wheat-back pennies ever amassed. Jerry
had begun collecting coins as a Boy Scout when he earned the Coin Collecting merit badge. And although he doesn't think any of those coins ended up in this final collection, he had been slowly adding to this collection for several decades. It was a hobby, and also an investment. A few years ago, Jerry felt prompted to sell
the collection and give the entire proceeds of this sale to charity. A large portion of the sale of this penny
collection went to the orphanage mentioned above. Our joy in knowing that we have been able to help
others in need is much greater than the joy of owning the best set of Lincoln
Wheat-back pennies ever collected.
We wish you
and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy (and prosperous) New Year!
