It was late at night on a bitter cold evening. Linda had just crawled into bed after a particularly hard day at work. With the economy going downhill, the small company she worked for had let go three workers that day. Then, after delivering the pink slips, Linda’s boss came by her desk and told her that even though he had to let three workers go, the work they had been doing still needed to get done. And guess who got to do it – that’s right, Linda. She had stayed late at work, trying to get everything done.

Then, she had to run by the church for a meeting. She sat through the meeting, only half paying attention as the committee chair discussed ideas for the upcoming season. Linda was thinking about all the work that was still mounded up on her desk. It wasn’t until she heard the committee chair repeat her name that she realized she hadn’t been paying attention.

"So, Linda, will you do it?"

"Sure," Linda said before she even realized she had opened her mouth.

Now as she lay in bed, Linda wondered what in the world she had signed up for. What was she thinking? She had neither the time nor the ability to direct the children’s Christmas program. What had she been thinking? She resolved right then and there that first thing in the morning she would call up the committee chair and tell him that she had changed her mind and he needed to find someone else. With that resolution in mind, Linda drifted off into sleep.

After a fitful night of sleep, Linda stumbled out of bed and toward the coffee maker. As the warm coffee worked its way into her, she remembered her resolution and grabbed the phone. She dialed the committee chair’s number and told him that she couldn’t direct the children’s program after all. She told him about the other workers that had been laid off and the extra workload that she had been assigned. The committee chair listened to Linda’s speech and then paused before saying, "But Linda, the Lord has need of you."

Linda grimaced. She hated how he used that phrase to get people to help out around the church. It seemed like he was trying to guilt-trip her into doing something just because it was for the church. "Well certainly the Lord can find someone else," she thought to herself.

The committee chair said, "Last night when I asked you to direct the children’s program, I just saw something inside of you that spoke to me. I truly felt as though you were the right person for the job this year."

"He certainly is laying it on thick today," thought Linda. But what came out of her mouth was, "How can this be? How am I going to have time to get together the Christmas program for the kids on top of my new responsibilities at work?"

"Don’t worry, you won’t be alone. Other members of the church will help out and God will be with you," was the reply offered by the committee chair.

Linda was thinking of her next excuse. But before she could think of another excuse, the words that came out of her mouth surprised her. She didn’t think she said anything but sure enough she heard her voice saying, "I’ll do it." She hung up the phone and sighed.

Weeks passed and it was Christmas Eve – the night of the pageant. Backstage, things were in an uproar. It was 20 minutes before the service and the wise men had lost their crowns and the sheep were restless. "Whose idea was it to have live animals?" Linda asked herself as she avoided a particularly cantankerous donkey and a llama that someone had dressed up to look like a camel. The angels had lost their wings and the baby Jesus was missing. Parents were milling around looking for ways they could help out.

Linda peeped out to where the congregation was gathered and saw that everyone in the congregation must have invited all their relatives and all their friends – the place was packed. In the very back she even saw a reporter from the local paper. "Oh no," Linda thought. "This is going to be a complete disaster and we will be the front page laughing stock in tomorrow’s paper." But before she could even complete her thought Linda felt a tug on her skirt. Turning she saw little Benjamin. He was dressed in his white angel robe and wings. As Linda reached down and straightened out his crooked halo Ben said, "Miss Linda, I forgot my lines."

Linda could feel her stress-level rise but the words that came out of her mouth surprised her once again. "That’s okay, God remembers them and will help you remember when the time comes." Ben smiled and ran off to join the other heavenly host who were gathered in the corner of the fellowship hall next to the shepherds who were sword fighting with their shepherd’s crooks.

"Oh, good grief," thought Linda as she clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. "Okay everyone, it’s about time to begin. Wise men, your crowns are in the box in the nursery. Shepherds, stop sword fighting and follow the adults caring for the sheep. Joseph, give the donkey some hay and keep a few oats in your back pocket so he will follow you. Mary, the baby Jesus is under the manger, waiting for you to put him in it. Angels, don’t forget to smile, after all you are bringing good news."

With that said, Linda heard the pastor’s voice come over the loudspeaker as he welcomed the congregation to the children’s program. As he opened with prayer, Linda could feel some of the anxiety leave her – the program was in God’s hands now. She had worked as hard as she could. She took a deep breath as the spotlight shone on Joseph leading Mary on the donkey – it had begun.

Much of the rest of the play was a blur. Benjamin remembered his lines. Only one sheep wandered off from the shepherds and the llama only spat once. The wise men brought their gifts and the baby Jesus was found in the manger. As the whole congregation joined in singing "Silent Night," tears began to run down Linda’s cheeks. As the last refrain of "Christ the Savior is born" echoed into the night Linda felt a hand upon her shoulder.

The committee chair looked at her, "The Lord had need of you tonight."

Linda smiled and wondered what the Lord had in store for her tomorrow.

God comes to all of us. What will your answer be? God came to Mary, a poor young woman in a humble town and promised to work through her amazing things. May we follow Mary’s example and say, "Here am I, a servant of the Lord." God can certainly work through us as well. What might the Lord have in store for you today?