What my dad—and a stuffed toy—taught me about God’s unwavering love

I've been blessed with many wonderful Christmas gifts over the years. A silver charm bracelet from my mother. A gold locket from my husband. The most memorable gift I've ever received, however, came from a surprising source, and under very unusual circumstances.

The summer I was nine years old, my best friend, Marty, invited me to go to a movie with her family. It was a big deal. My parents were fairly conservative in their Christianity. There wasn't a drop of alcohol in our house, rock music was frowned upon, and going to the movies was a rare and carefully monitored treat.

Still, to my delight, Mom and Dad said yes. Before Marty's parents picked me up, my mom gave me the usual set of instructions--stay close to a grown-up at all times, be polite and respectful, don't forget to say "thank-you." Then, as Marty's family's car pulled in front of our house, my dad tucked a five-dollar bill into my pocket.

What an elderly store clerk reminded me about taking my name for granted

"Call me Bill," the elderly, slightly stooped, sales clerk told me. He'd just handed me his business card. "For some reason they put ?William' on the card. But nobody calls me William. Only my mother did. But she's long gone now."

As I stood with this retired furniture salesman, now Home Depot appliance guru, I noticed a faraway look in his eyes. I figured it didn't have to do with the white Maytag double oven we were currently discussing.

"She used to call me William when she was upset with me!" he said and chuckled. Then he turned serious. "What I wouldn't give to hear my mother call me ?William' again. It's been all these years since she passed, but I still wish I could hear her call my name. You still have your parents?"

Why we need to take time to “think on these things”

All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary kept these things in her heart and thought about them often (Luke 2:18-19, NLT).

Twelve years ago this December, I had an encounter with God I'll never forget. I was in the thick of a personal crisis so frightening to me, I literally couldn't function. With desperate, convulsive sobs, I cried out to God, pleading for his help.

Then--in the thick of my hysteria - the Lord spoke directly to me with four commonplace, yet powerful, words: Everything will be OK.