She was sitting in the doorway to the mall. I just assumed she was about to ask me for money… just like most of the tattered dressed, ashy faced, too much drama for TV people I saw begging ‘round there all the time. I expected a story about how she needed money for the bus or. . .
(Spoken Word is a rhythmic expression mixing poetry and prose. This is not written for grammar purposes but for oral presentation). Written & presented by my daughter, Danelle at the Minneapolis Gospel Sounds, Holiday Concert
WHY WAIT TILL CHRISTMAS?
She was sitting in the doorway to the mall. I just assumed she was about to ask me for money… just like most of the tattered dressed, ashy faced, too much drama for TV people I saw begging ‘round there all the time. I expected a story about how she needed money for the bus or food for her four kids at home because daddy just got locked up, she was about to be evicted and all she needed was my $4.97 to help her out. So I looked in my pocket for a couple of ones ‘cuz I thought I just broke that 50… see, she was lucky, I was in the Christmas spirit. It only comes around once a year and you have to take advantage of the Christmas cheer. Peace, love, and goodwill… Still, as I prepared to hand her over a couple of ones and a coupon for a free can of soup… I was surprised how she looked at me.
There were no smiles, no joy, her demeanor held sadness heavy in her eyes, peaceful, but pained by more of the world than I cared to know. She surrendered a spirit of sincerity…So I put the ones back in my pocket and offered her a 20. She reached for my hand and closed it… didn’t take the money. She held my stare and said, “Why wait for Christmas, when I ask for you every day?” About to tell her this was the first time we’d ever met… but I started to understand what she meant.
Christmas trees, Nativity scenes and Christmas caroling; A season for everything lovely. This is the time for charity and giving. Toys for Tots drive, homeless shelters sing songs next to Salvation Army’s ring bells to the tunes of our generous donations because it’s Christmas time and the tax returns are right around the corner. Cornerstone charities collect coat bundles and food baskets for needy children as if their greatest needs only come once a year.
This is the time where our homes are filled with love, our disagreements are put on hold because it’s not about ourselves during Christmas—it’s about others, it’s about giving, it’s about a Love so great it lived for us, died for us, and lives for us again. But it takes too much to live like this more than once a year. So our celebration waits for Christmas—to renew our spirits, to love, to give, to cherish.
The woman let go of my hand and stood to leave. And as she left it wasn’t her voice that would speak and repeat…“Why wait for Christmas when I ask for you, when I call for you every day?—when my blessings are abundant…when my grace is overflowing… and when my love is everlasting. What if I waited for Christmas?” But I pleaded with the Lord… “I didn’t hear you calling me. When did you ask for me?” And the Lord replied, “I tell you the truth… whatever you did not do, for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Matthew 25:45
Dirke & Lorna Johnson 