The Touch of The “Disasters” Hand!

December 10th, 2025 Scott
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TheDiscipleMD

Many years ago, right after my wife and I got married, at the ripe old age of 22, I took my twelve-year-old Sunday School class to a local nursing home, where we had regularly visited an older man who had no family.  On a bright sunny Sunday morning, my class and I walked across the street from the chapel to visit him for the last time, as I was moving the next week. It was December, and the nursing home was in full regalia.  The tinsel and decorations were up, and Christmas music filled the air.  My class and I sat and talked with our friend for a while and then we gave him some gifts.  He graciously accepted them then motioned to me to follow him to his room as he had a gift for us.  My class of about ten youth and I piled into his tiny, cramped quarters.  The old man went directly to his small closet and pulled out, to my amazement, a violin.  It was old and looked to be in need of repair. He smiled and started to tune it.  I guess I had read the story of “The Touch of the Master’s Hand” too often, because my mind started to conjure up images of this old man playing the violin like a professional.  This was going to be a special treat, I thought.

Then he placed the violin under his chin and started to play.  The notes didn’t float nor sound in tune, but they squeaked and pitched and fought the air. I grimaced! “Yikes”, I remember thinking, “What a disaster!” But the longer he played, the more recognizable the song became.   He was playing the hymn, “I am a Child of God.”  I don’t know what happened next for sure, but I think the master’s hand passed right over that violin and touched something much more important: my heart!  As I watched the old man’s face shine and listened to the rendition of that hymn on his violin, the caustic sound transformed into a perfect melody. I’ve heard and sung that hymn thousands of times over my lifetime. But only once have I experienced such power and beauty in its performance as I did that day. We had come to serve him, but he had ended up serving us.  What I learned that day was that sometimes the “least of these my brethren”, (Matthew 25:40) end up teaching us powerful lessons about the attributes of Jesus Christ. The ‘gift’ we give is always perfect when it is given from the heart! While I at first thought his performance was a disaster, it ended up being my own personal experience with the touch of a master’s hand. I am sure that old gentleman has long since left this earth. But his performance has lingered in my heart, a testimony that the smallest gifts of service can last long after we have departed this life.

Every Day Is “Christmas” When I Spend It With You!

December 9th, 2025 Scott
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As I thought today of “Christmas Past,” I couldn’t help but feel a deep warmth in my soul, wonderful memories, and cherished thoughts. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” the songsters sing! Indeed, it is a cornucopia of goodness that washes over my soul. And although my mother dominates my childhood memories of love and warmth, it is my wife who is central to most of my life. She is the mother of my children, my companion, and the woman of my dreams.

So today, as I reflected on another Christmas past, I couldn’t help but think of how much goodness has come into my life because of her. And I sent her a text that said, “Every day is ‘Christmas’ when I spend it with you!” I share this in a public forum because I think it is essential to know that the world is full of loving couples who have been married for decades who cherish their relationship and love their spouses with all their hearts. Life is indeed full of thorns and thistles as well as wine and roses. But everyone needs to know that love and marriage can work, and that when they do, it is a wonderful thing. It’s a thing of beauty! A good marriage is like a raging bonfire of goodness that will consume a couple with the fire of love.

Christmas is a time to celebrate our Savior. He can be the savior of any marriage if both parties commit to living within the bounds set and adhering to the teachings he gave regarding true love. So look to the Savior; “Christmas” can come more than once a year. It can come as often as you and your spouse plan it. Let’s make “Christmas” a monthly, weekly, or daily event in our homes. “I’ll be home for Christmas,” and it doesn’t have to be “only in my dreams!”

When A Hell’s Angel Gives A Widow’s Mite!

December 8th, 2025 Scott

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TheDiscipleMD

Years ago when I was an insurance agent,  one of my policyholders would bring me old New York Yankee baseball cards (I’m an avid Yankees fan) every time he came in the office. Others have come in and put down on my desk, old baseball coins, cards, pennants and other baseball memorabilia that they have, but somehow feel I would appreciate more. Once a couple, with smiles on their faces, put down on my desk, five New York Yankee Yearbooks from the late 70’s and early 80’s. The wife said, “We have doubles of these and thought you might like them”. I was touched by their thoughtfulness. I recall one policyholder of mine who came into my office with a grin. He was a man about my age, was heavyset, bushy beard, and had long hair that fell from his balding head. He rode a motorcycle and looked and dressed every bit the part of a “Hells Angel”. He didn’t have much as to the things of this world. He put three baseball books down on my desk. They were big “coffee-table” type books. He said with a smile,  “I was grudging through some old books in the local Goodwill Store and saw these. I thought you might like them”.

What I have noticed over the years is that many of these individuals seemed to have little, yet they were thoughtful, and eager to give. Perhaps it is because they were living humble lives and knew, and more importantly, had experienced the value of small acts of kindness. I am reminded of the Savior’s story of the widow.

“And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had” (Luke 21:1-4)

We give gifts each year at Christmas time to celebrate his birth. Too often we get so caught up in the monetary value of the “gifts” we give, that we become simply the “rich men casting (our) gifts into the treasury”. While giving expensive gifts many seem to convey the “value” of our love for others, it really shouldn’t be that way. We can give simple gifts that are meaningful and that convey the true meaning of Christmas. As each year passes I gain a better understanding of the true nature and importance of doing the small things that make me a better Christian and they rarely involve money.

Over the years as these policyholders had come bearing gifts, I was always been touched by their thoughtfulness. The value of what they brought never had a bearing on my gratitude. I put on display every item they brought, from the 1957 Phil Rizzuto baseball card to a bottle cap that used to seal in the carbonation of a 1964 Coca-Cola soda bottle. It bore an image of Elston Howard, the great Yankee catcher underneath.

So as my policyholder, the “Hells Angel”, left my office the that day, I watched from my second story window as he walked out into the parking lot. He put on his helmet, got on his bike and drove away. My office shook when he revved his engine. As I watched him disappear in the distance I thought how small things in life teach you “large” lessons. I never knew I would meet the “widow” of scriptural fame. I never knew the “mite” would be left sitting on my desk. And I never knew that the “widow” would look like a heavy-set balding biker, wearing jeans and a leather jacket while driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle. I just never knew!

All I Want For Christmas Is…?

December 6th, 2025 Scott

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TheDiscipleMD

As we approach the celebration of our Savior’s birth, we need to keep in mind the true reason for it’s celebration. We give gifts and presents because the wise men gave such when they visited the small child, Jesus. They did so to honor and respect him and to show their belief in his divine birth. They brought expensive gifts. I assume they could afford to do so. Most often we don’t have such wealth. Alas, the advertisers of man have convinced us that if we don’t have the ability to give expensive gifts, we should borrow to do so. It is an easy trap to fall into. I have done so often. Perhaps that is why I am moved when I hear the Christmas song ” The Little Drummer Boy.”  Here is a boy with nothing of real value to offer, yet he can play his drum. Most touching to me is that at the conclusion of his drum playing, he relates that the baby Jesus “smiled at me;”  an acknowledgement that the poor boy’s gift is acceptable.  I have always been able to imagine how that made the drummer boy feel. Perhaps, it is because I too have felt small in what I give to the Lord.  I know it’s just a made up song. I know there was no “drummer boy” at the Manger. But what I do know is that the moral of the story resonates with my soul.  I believe the Savior accepts from each of us what we are able to give, small or large.

I spoke with a woman a few years back.  I asked her if she was ready for Christmas. She said “We really don’t celebrate Christmas”. I was taken back, because I know she is a Christian. Then she said, “I buy my kids and grandchildren gifts throughout the year. The stress involved in doing so at this time of year takes the joy out of the season. Several years ago we decided to just get together as a family, have dinner and enjoy the day in each other’s company.” At first I was taken back. But as I reflected on her statement I believe there was much wisdom in her words. Perhaps we stress ourselves out in quest for the perfect gifts and lose the real joy that should come from celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Maybe we should remember that the best things in life are free. I know that the best gifts I have received over the years was not something from Macy’s, or Best Buy, or any other store. It was hearing the cries of my children as they came into this world. More recently,  it has been the cries of grandbabies being born.  The melody of crying newborn babes trumps the Tabernacle Choir any day!
So, perhaps this Christmas we should slow down and remember what the season is all about. It’s the gift of earthly life, and the gift of eternal life that is made possible by our Savior which we celebrate. His birth stands of as a symbol of all that we were; all that we are; and all we will ever become.

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