Peace!

My friend, Denny, sent me a note during the holiday season that serves as a fitting reminder of God’s love. No matter what our earthly struggles might be, we can trust that our heavenly Father has promised us eternal life that nothing on earth can overcome.

Up until a few days ago, I really was not looking forward to Christmas this year. Financially this has been a tough year. Spiritually, I have been drained, helping a good friend deal with the loss of his father and trying to understand how cancer is about to claim the life of a beloved friend and employee, Linda. On a much lesser scale, my Gators lost their chance for a perfect season and a repeat National Championship. As a result, I have been a bit grumpy, especially to my family.

My attitude has changed due to some rather unusual gifts. This is the season of Advent — the time when Christians look forward to the fulfillment of God’s promise to bring forth a Messiah, the Son of God whose birth and then his death would bring the gift of eternal life to all who believe. Material gifts that we exchange will always pale in comparison to this incredible gift of love and grace from God.

The first gift that I received in this Advent season was the gift of scripture. Last summer I was talking to a lawyer friend of mine that I have known for many years. I was trying to explain to him how I had started studying the Bible and using the Word to guide me. He was questioning how a book written two thousand years ago by hermits and illiterate fishermen could have any bearing on life in the modern age. I think I have a better answer now then I did then. I will try to explain.

During the Gators' recent loss to Alabama, Tim Tebow had the verse John 16:33 written on the paint on his cheeks. This was a different verse than the ones he had used previously and it was not something that I was familiar with from my studies. So the next day I looked it up and it reads: "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

These words were among the last spoken by Jesus to his Disciples just before He was taken by the Romans. The scriptural message is one of hope that we can overcome our daily problems, no matter how great, through faith. An interesting choice of scripture for Tebow, who has overcome many obstacles as he proclaims his faith to the secular world.

As I have been talking to Linda and her family as they face her cancer, this phrase has come back to me repeatedly. I have prayed it for her as she deals with medical setbacks, but had never mentioned it to her or anyone else. Yesterday Matt and I drove over to Orlando to see her for probably the last time. We had not seen her in several months. Before leaving my office, I meant to print out a copy of John 16:33 to give to her but got caught up in work and did not get it done. We arrived at Linda’s hospital room as she was reading Christmas cards. We made small talk and laughed about some office news that she had not heard. She told me that she was sorry to hear about the Gators. As she was saying this she started reading one of her Christmas cards. The person that sent her the card wrote that they had been inspired by the message from Tebow and as we sat there, Linda read John 16:33 from the card. I was blown away as I told her the relevance of the verse to me.

The timing of this whole event is amazing and further proof to me that Scripture is alive. God can and does speak to us in interesting ways if we open our hearts and minds to Him.

The second gift is the spiritual gift that is from Linda. She started to work in my office on a part-time basis several years ago. She came into the office at a time of significant turmoil. We had been operating without a receptionist for a while and the stress levels were through the roof. To this environment, she brought a level of calm and peace through her composure and compassion. She restored a sense of order and calm and could handle the most difficult client tactfully. She walks daily with God and is able to face any problem, even the pain and ordeal of cancer, with a sense of grace and dignity. She has made an impact on the nurses and doctors in the hospital and she proclaims her faith — both by her conversation and her actions. That sense of peace will long be remembered by Sally, Susan, Matt and myself as we work through the challenges of running an office in trying economic times. More importantly, I will strive to be caring to those around me and not get distracted by whatever troubles I may face.

Linda’s gift during this Advent season is the gift of love, that no matter how trying and difficult our earthly challenges may be, there is always the love of God and the gift of eternal life that this world cannot overcome. It is a gift that I will treasure always. It is a gift well worth sharing with others.