GOD SET THE CHRISTMAS TABLE

Trolly Neutzsky Wulff

The financial crisis is still remembered and mentioned here in Canada. Those who lived through these difficult times, when the government gave unemployed and hungry to eat, refer to this crisis with awe and horror.

But in times of crisis, God lives and is still the same. What is impossible for man is possible for him, even in circumstances where everything seems hopeless. Minnie and Herb Jones were among those affected strongly by the crisis. The crisis completely swept the legs from under them.

Shortly before the crisis hit, they had surrendered to God, and now when they looked into a future that didn't seem too bright, they learned to latch on to God. Believers and more experienced friends taught them God's grace and of the full privileges of prayer and Herb kept all this in his heart. He dared to believe when they could not expect help from any man, and they saw many wondrous things that shows how God hears prayer and cares for his, even though he sometimes acts in ways, which can make it extremely difficult to persevere in prayer and faith.

Sometimes it seemed that things were going completely out of control. God didn't answer prayers, or so it seemed, anyway. He let accidents loom and locked all exit-doors, and so they became really scared. Especially Minnie, who was easy to startle, and so they thought that now the accident was certain. But every time it turned out that God did not come too late. It was only in the eyes of frightened people, that it seemed as if the heavenly clock was too slow .

One day they had nothing edible left in the house except a small dry piece of bread and they had no money to buy food. If they had just something edible at home so that the situation had not been so serious. However, this piece of bread was the only thing they had. They then cut as much of the bread that they barely were filled this morning, but the little bit that was left was nowhere near enough, so they cut 2 more thin slices of it. Minnie was very discouraged, because it was the first time that they were so badly off that they didn't even have enough food for themselves.

They were on their knees praying several times this morning and putting forward their desires to God, and more or less intentional they both hoped that the post-man might come to help. However, today the postman didn't even came to their door, and it was breakfast time . Herb had read many of Gods promises, so that their faith might be strengthened, and he had thanked and praised God that he didn't betray those who believed in him. But it was obvious for everyone, that Minnie was scared, and she felt that God had completely forgotten them this time.

Herb decided that they might as well share the tiny bread to themselves as to sit here and starve. He went into the kitchen, and a little later he returned with 2 slices of bread . "I do not understand nothing" he said. "There appears to be just as much bread now as before I cut bread for you earlyer this morning."

So they thanked God and ate again, and when Minnie with a sigh said she was not full, Herb went into the kitchen again after more bread - and again he came in with 2 slices of bread. Now they began slowly to feel that God helped them in his own way, and he did not need a whole loaf of bread to fill them.

They were not hungry again this day, not even once. By lunch they again cut two slices of the bread, and when they had eaten up Herb went out again after 2 slices. Every time he came into the kitchen the tiny bread had the same size amd was not diminished.
Later in the afternoon one unsaved woman came visiting them and Minnies mind immediately went to the empty pantry. It had not been necessary for her to bother about this for as this woman, who never before nor later helped them, she now gave them coffee, sugar, wheat bread, butter and milk. It was Minnie who accepted the gift and carried everything out of the kitchen. At that moment she noticed that there was nothing left of the tiny bread except a few crumbs.

When they were all by themselves again, they had a blessed time of prayer together and praised God for his faithfulness. They had indeed been allowed to see how independent and sovereign God is from all physical circumstances, when he wants to help.

Another time they had no coke left for the fiireplace. This was in the middle of winter and a married daughter with an infant should come visit. They could not expect any help from her, because also her home town was hit by unemployment. They feared for the infant, and they would certainly turn on the fireplace with what they had of newspapers and a few pieces of coke. The coke was in a great hectoliters box in the kitchen. Herb swept gently all of it, it was mostly dust and some crumbs of coke and he filled the coke bucket 2 times.

It now got a bit warmer inside the room for the baby, but it was not long before the coke was exhausted and the room immediately again started cooling off. Herb went out again to see if it was possible to scrape and collect a little more coke dust, and despite the fact that he had taken everything that could be taken few minutes ago, he this time got as much that he could fill the bucket 2 - 3 times, so it was not cold in the fireplace until help arrived with more coke but there was not even coke enough to just a teaspoon. He did not lack a miracle.

Now Christmas was fast approaching but the prospect for them was miserable. They had no money to celebrate Christmas, even though they were very undemanding and satisfied with a miserable meal. Worst of all was that Minnie's shoes were quite worn. The shoemaker said straight out to her that he could do nothing to patch them.

Despite the fact that many prayers were sent to the Lord, the answers were long in coming, and they were all more or less depressed. Minnie was embarrassed to go to church in those ugly worn out shoes without soles and Herb understood her quite well. Often he went for long walks, all alone and he opened his heart to the Lord and reminded him on his promise. It was easyer to him easier to pray and praise God than Minnie. For him Gods promises were solid as the rock upon which he could build his faith and the fact that she lost courage and faith so easily forced him into a deeper relationship with God, so he could have enough strength to them both.

However, Minnie would stare longingly into shop some windows, where they sold shoes. She had been grateful for even the cheapest pair of shoes, as long as they were intact . It was not that easy to for her to get used shoes from others, when she had some very delicate and tricky feet. They were short and very wide, so it was always a problem when she had to buy something for her feet. How Christmas was going to be they forgot all about because they thought so much of Minnie's shoes.

Again God did wait that long that Minnie thought this time she certainly would get no help. When Herb talked to her about the promises and they prayed together, she could also be filled with faith and trust, but there was not much before again she looked down, looked at the problems.

One day Herb gone to visit his daughter. He was always so helpful. He took the ash tray and carried it into the yard, where there were all sorts of junk that some people had worn down as they moved the day before. And in the middle on top of all this waste was a pair of -new watm wintershoes with raw rubber soles - and it looked like they might fit Minnies difficult feet.
I need hardly tell that they were tailor-made for her. God who knew her feet better than anyone had also provided the right shoes for her.

Now the difficulty of Christmas became acute for us. They wished they had had a little bit of money so they could feel and see that now it was Christmas at their place, but there was no money of. They owned no more than they could just manage the households with very simple means. So there was never question about doing anything special.

This, too, they laid before God, and put it in his hands, for they were adults who knew that Christmas is not dependent on external circumstances. But God, who knows that his creation is dust had in his love also prepared a good Christmas for them.

They helped eagerly in what was called "Slum-mission". They participated faithfully and attend all meetings and outdoor meetings, and Herb was always ready with a testimony about Jesus. This mission would like to do something special for 5-6 men who used to come there. They had nowhere to be for Christmas, and for the reason that they knew that Herb and Minnie had little means, they gave them money and asked them to see to that these homeless and poor wretches that no one else took care of, got a good Christmas. This way it turned out that either Herb and Minnie, nor the 6 homeless menn did miss anything this Christmas.

This was a blessed feast - at a beautifully set table with everything on it - along with those who were worst off in society. With hoarse voices they sang the old Christmas hymns about him that came down to the earth just to save poor sinners like us.

More than one sip glistened that evening, and the hearts and minds were open so that the couple could witness to them about Jesus and what he meant to them. The Christmas tree stood there with twinkling lights and gave the right Christmas atmosphere when Herb read the Christmas gospel, and Minnie distributed the presents that friends of the mission had made for them. A warm shirt - a new pair of socks - they accepted them all as if it were precious treasures. They were definitely not accustomed to receiving gifts.

Jesus had set the table for all of them, and he had been head as a guest. The blessing was left with them when the homeless had gone. Two grateful individuals bowed their knees in thanks and worshipped him who had taken care of it everything, and who also in the new year would be faithful to his children.

Effie Campbell translated