MAKING
A DEAL WITH GOD

Topics: Anger; Changed Heart; Children; Christmas; Love; Mercy; Receiving Christ

Reference: John 1:12

I once taught a Bible class at the home of Barbara Holmyard, the Champion Spark Plug heiress. Princess Alexandra of Greece was invited to come, and she did. Rose Kennedy came with her.

When I saw that Rose was present, I immediately changed my subject for the day to a little homily on death, making three points:

1.     You can fight it.

2.     You can take flight from it.

3.     You can make a deal with God.

After the class, Rose whispered in my ear, “I made that deal a long time ago.

“I was a spoiled young bride of a strong-willed man, a socialite who attended every function possible,” she began. “We were expecting a child and elated at the prospect. The day came when our child was born. She was a beautiful child.

“But it wasn’t long until we realized that there was something terribly wrong with her. We took her to the doctor, who confirmed our fears. She was retarded, and nothing could be done.”

“Anger grew within my heart,” Rose said. “How could God do such a thing to this child—to me? I turned my back on God, my husband, my closest friends—and became a recluse.

“One evening a major event was happening in the city. I wanted to go, but I was so filled with wrath that I thought I might create a scene. My husband feared it, too, so we decided to stay home. A lovely woman, who was one of our maids, gently said to me, ‘Please excuse me, Mrs. Kennedy, but I’ve been watching you the last few weeks. I love you very much, and I hate to see this destroy your life. Mrs. Kennedy, you’ll never be happy until you make your heart a manger where the Christ-child may be born.’

“I fired her on the spot! Yet later that night my mind ruminated relentlessly, keeping me awake. I could not forget that lovely face, the sweetness of the maid, the joy in her spirit, and especially her words.

“I have loved Christ all my life, and tried to be a good Catholic, but now I knelt beside my bed and prayed, ‘Dear God, make my heart a manger where the Christ-child may be born.’ I felt a fresh new divine entry into my life, and there was born in me a love for retarded children.

“Oh, by the way, I rehired the lovely maid. She was with us until her death.”

—Jess Moody, Club Sandwich (Broadman & Holman, 1999)