I have always disliked Christmas music and especially pageants; however, my wife loves them . . . She sang in the choir for many years and always participated in Christmas pageants, spending months learning the music by heart. So, when the church that we have been attending announced they were having one I physically groaned. Our church is a 30-45-minute drive from our farm and I could not allow her to drive that distance and come home at night in the dark by herself. Her friend could not go because she was off Christmas shopping, so I had to step up to the plate and bite the bullet.
So I sacrificed and went with her, On the ride over one of my sons and two of my friends called. When they asked what I was doing, they laughed like hyenas. How did you get roped into that? They asked as they had another good laugh at my expense. I glumly told them it was a long story, but I would have much preferred to be sitting on my deer stand than going to some Christmas music thing.
My wife knew I didn’t want to go, but she badly wanted to go and I didn’t want to spoil her fun, so I tried to hold my sour outlook inside (as best I could). We arrived early and got some excellent seats. I had some kind of stomach ailment and felt as though I might throw up at any moment. I wondered if I should go to the car in case I got to the point of no return but I didn’t tell her I was sick. because I knew if I told her and that I was going to wait in the car, she would want to leave . . . so I toughed it out.
I was wondering what I would do if I threw up. Obviously, I didn’t want that to happen in the pew and I thought I would just pull my jacket off and hurl in it if need be. Just then the Christmas worship music program began. I was stunned by the beautiful voices being lifted up to God. I didn’t realize that a medium-sized church could have so many talented singers. It was so beautiful that tears appeared in my eyes several times.
The pageant lasted about an hour and a half and I was riveted by the glorious sounds of that choir. They not only reenacted the birth of Jesus in costumes and songs but also his death and resurrection. I am elated that I attended this service.
I was thinking about this and I truly believe that Satan tried his utmost to keep me from being blessed by this worship service including sending the sickness. As I thought about it some more, I believe the Holy Spirit led me to go and to overcome my objections. It was like a spiritual tug of war. I think that perhaps at His behest I lived out an important command of Christ in loving others, (my wife), so much that I put her desires above my own and sacrificed for her. She enjoys it so much that it would have been terrible for me to spoil it for her.
In all candor I reemphasize, I DID NOT WANT TO GO! But that service was the best experience I’ve had in months or maybe even a year or more. The bottom line is that I was blessed even though I did not deserve it. God helped me through the temptation to find a way out of it and the real joy came when I would steal glances at my wife as she listened with that big wonderful smile on her face. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss that for the world.
My late friend Jack Roland Murphy, (Murf the Surf) used to say, “Just do the right thing Bob – We just need to do the right thing!” Murf nailed it on that one and I hope he smiled down from heaven as he saw this old sinner do the right thing, (for a change).
Phil. 2:3
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.