Tuesday, November 25, 2008

the Red Umbrella

It was Christmas and the pastor asked me, a sister, to take communion to shut ins so that the regular Ministers could attend church with their families. One of my assignments was a family of two handicapped parents who were blessed with a lovely little four-year old girl. She was the one who answered the door and I explained that I had come to bring Jesus to her parents. Fascinated, she watched as I opened the golden pyx. "Is that really Jesus?" She asked. When I assured her it was she ran away shouting "Wait!" She came back with a little red child's umbrella. She held it over the pyx and said, "Jesus, I wanted to show you the pretty umbrella I got today for your birthday!"
The communion service took place under the red canopy and an indelible Christmas memory was born.