As the sun set on a humid Southern California day, we sat at the McDonald’s drive thru, pondering our dire situation. She had just been sent packing from the house we stayed in. And she was pregnant. This was year 2005. The convenient thing to do was to send her back to Indiana, while I stayed back and looked for a job. Perhaps after a few week of earnings, I will be able to get an apartment and bring the family back. Long before I learned that “Jobs come and jobs go, but at the end of the day, family is all you got“, God helped me choose to do the right thing. I chose to go back to Indiana with her even though we had no place to sleep, nor did we have a job in Indiana. Today, I look back all these years and realize it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I chose to fulfill my purpose as a Dad and Husband and God took care of the rest.

He was all by Himself crying. Feeling lonely as though the weight of the world was on His shoulders. As if He was wicked and had done the wrong things in life. How else could he explain that he was about to die a brutal death. And in his neediest moment, he was, well, alone. The tears streamed down his face. He could do the convenient thing. He could call this all off. He could call angels from heaven to deliver him, and they would. But He chose instead to do the right thing. To go through the cross and the grave. To be hurt and betrayed even unto death. As he now sits on His Father’s right hand, He looks back and sees His shed blood make an atonement for many. Thank goodness he chose to fulfill his purpose as savior.

Merry Christmas to you and your family, We celebrate today because Jesus Christ chose to do the right thing. To choose his family (you) and fulfill his purpose. May that be your inspiration today as you celebrate with family and loved ones. Yes, you don’t have all you want but may you want all you have. May you choose to do that which is right even when it’s not convenient. May you blossom and flourish even as you fulfill your purpose in life. I love you, and God loves you so much more.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6