Resting in the lap of Jesus

OPINION:

As we near Christmas, I am reminded of a story of a gift given to a dying man told to us by a visiting pastor in his sermon. He knew well what we read of in the Gospel of John: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Years ago, this pastor contacted a hospice near his home and offered to help. The staff called to see if he could visit a resident whose pastor was gone.

When he arrived in the room, the man, who was terminally ill, was lying in bed. They chatted and eventually talked about the man’s prayer life. He smiled and pointed to the empty chair by the wall.

To give him comfort, the man said, he talks to Jesus as though he were sitting in that chair all day and all night. The pastor thought this was such a wonderful image of prayer. He later told that moving story to us in a sermon.

Indeed, it was a great reminder to make prayer real. Instead of limiting it to the beginning and end of the day or before meals, why not find ways to purposefully talk to God all through the day? The man lying in his hospice bed made his conversation with Christ real —  like talking with a devoted friend who never left his side.

That image helped enhance the rest of the sermon and the Scripture that was referenced. The story at the start of the sermon would stick with me for some time and is a powerful reminder to find new ways to communicate with God in my daily routine.

At the sermon’s close, he returned to the story about the man in hospice. The pastor said that he received a call a day or so later that the man had died and that his visit was appreciated.

Then he shared something I will never forget. The woman on the call told him he might like to know where they found the man. Amazingly, with his last breaths, the man got himself out of bed, crawled across the floor and died with his head resting on the seat of the chair against the wall in his room.

Resting in the lap of Jesus. What an image of eternal comfort. What a blessing, indeed. God loves us so much that he sent his son for us so that we may have eternal life. It is the gift of Christmas.

For many, the holidays are more of a burden than a blessing. We are stressed out from hosting our family and friends. We worry about having enough money to cover the bills. Our anxiety often leads to outbursts against the people we love most.

For others, it is an empty chair at the table that causes us pain. It might be a loved one we lost or a broken relationship that makes this time of year so challenging for us.

Time, or the lack of it, causes others to stress out as we try to balance buying and wrapping gifts with Christmas parties and gatherings, concerts, church services and all the special things we do during the holidays. I remember setting up toys for the kids in the basement of our first home while watching the pope say Mass in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time to get everything done for Christmas.

In a world where social media platforms tend to reward the most outrageous put-downs, know that God’s grace gives us true peace. The dying man lying in the bed knew it well. When it was time, he was ready to do so lying in the lap of his savior. He was ready for eternal peace.

As the angels said to the shepherds in the fields with their flocks, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). God is ready to provide you with the eternal gift of peace. All you have to do is ask. Merry Christmas.

• Scott Walker is president of Young America’s Foundation and served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin.