A Christmas Light In The Darkness

A Christmas Light in the Darkness

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.

Matthew 4:16

It was her first Christmas alone. Her husband had died of cancer just a few months earlier. Feeling terribly lonely, the elderly woman decided she was in no mood to decorate for Christmas.

A few days before Christmas, a delivery boy with a box arrived at her door. He said, “Mrs. Thornhope?” She nodded. He said, “Would you sign here?” She invited him to come in out of the snow and closed the door to get away from the cold.

She signed the paper and said, “What’s in the box?” The young man laughed as he opened up the flap to reveal a little puppy. The delivery boy picked up the squirming bundle of fur and explained, “This is for you, ma’am. He’s six weeks old, completely housebroken.” The young puppy began to wiggle in happiness at being released from the box.

“Who sent this?” Mrs. Thornhope asked.

The young man set the animal down and handed her an envelope and said, “It’s all explained here in this envelope, ma’am. The dog was bought last July while its mother was still pregnant. It was meant to be a Christmas gift to you.”

She again asked, “Who sent me this puppy?”

As the young man turned to leave, he said, “Your husband, ma’am. Merry Christmas.”

Her husband had written the letter three weeks before he died and left it with the kennel owners to be delivered with the puppy as his last Christmas gift to his wife. The letter was full of love and encouragement to be strong. He vowed that he was waiting for the day when she would join him. He wanted this little dog to keep her company until then.

She wiped away the tears, put the letter down, and picked up the puppy. She heard from the radio in the kitchen the strains of “Joy to the World.” Suddenly she felt peace washing over her. Her heart felt a joy and a wonder greater than the grief and loneliness she’d been suffering.

She decided to decorate her home for Christmas after all.

God has a way of sending a signal of light to remind us that life is stronger than death. Light is more powerful than darkness.

You can’t have light without a dark to stick it in.

—Arlo Guthrie