Our son Allan was a typical, grumpy 14 – year – old. He would attend the youth group, led by a theology student named Doug, under protest; but attending under protest is probably as good as it gets with boys. For Christmas, Doug announced that there would be a special Bible study and party. Because the Weight Watchers group was meeting in the church that evening, the study would be held at Shel’s house, one of the church elders.
“Meet in the church parking lot and we’ll drive to Shel’s house,” said Doug.
That evening was precisely that miserable temperature at which the rain can’t decide whether it’s actually snow or not. After waiting for the usual stragglers, the group set off for Shel’s. They gathered in the driveway and waited in the sleet as Doug knocked on the door. Shel came to the door and said, “Yes? Can I help you?”
“We’re scheduled to hold our Bible study here because the church is full. Surely you remember!”
“I’m sorry,” said Shel. “There must be some mistake. My son is back from university and is having a party with his friends. It’s just not possible.”
Doug stomped back down the drive and told the group the news. They grumbled a bit and he said, “Why don’t we try the manse? They’ll let us in there!”
At the manse, the group waited in the driveway as Doug knocked on the door. This time they were just a little wetter and a little more impatient. Dana, the minister’s wife came to the door and Doug explained the situation.
“So, can we meet here?”
“I’m sorry,” Dana replied. “Our son has an earache and our daughter isn’t very well either. I’m afraid it just isn’t possible.”
The grumbling was louder and Doug looked very puzzled as he returned back down the drive.
“I guess we could try my parents’ house. They might let us in.” At Doug’s parents’ home, the teens waited in the driveway as his mother, Sheila, came to the door. He explained about Weight Watchers, Shel’s son, and Dana’s children. “Mom, could we please use this house?”
“Now Douglas, you’ll just have to learn to plan better than that. I’m sorry. It’s just not possible. We had new windows put in the house today and it’s covered with sawdust. You can’t come in here.”
Doug begged his mother to change her mind and finally she relented … relented very little.
“I tell you what. The garage is empty right now and it’s clean and dry. You can use the garage if you want.”
“The garage! Who does she think we are?!” thought the teens. But they were cold and wet and nothing better was on offer.
Doug walked over to the big double garage door, grasped its handle and slid it back.
Inside was a Christmas tree, chairs, and on a small table, a crèche, a model of the stable in Bethlehem.
“It got to me,” said Allan when he came home and told us about the evening. “For the first time, it got to me.”
May Christmas, and all the love it represents, get to you this year.
