When we went to celebrate Christmas with our extended family in Berlin, we had no idea what an adrenaline rush we would experience before. While waiting at the local suburban train station with all the gift bags, Wolfgang put his laptop in a black bag on the black bench. It was already dark and not a good idea. Since we still had some time before the train arrived, Wolfgang was handing out Christmas flyers to people who were also waiting on the platform.
The train arrived, we got on… and about three stops later, Wolfgang realized that he had left his laptop on that bench at the station. We got off the train and went back as fast as possible. We prayed desperately because it wasn’t just about the computer, but all of Wolfgang’s work, contacts, programs, etc., including the special Christmas emails we just prepared. That evening we were going to celebrate Christmas and losing the computer would mean a very spoiled celebration.
When we arrived at the original stop about 30 minutes later, the bench was empty and the laptop was gone! But we didn’t want to give up and searched every bit of the station and both exits. Finally, Wolfgang returned to the newsagent, where we had previously bought tickets. There, the salesman advised him to ask homeless people who gather under the steps of the platform.
So Wolfgang went downstairs and saw two of them discuss something vividly. It seemed pointless to him to talk to them, but he still went to them. As soon as he asked them about the lost laptop, they immediately responded: ‘So it’s yours!’ He couldn’t believe he meant it, but they actually found his laptop! They explained to him that they had searched the entire computer bag to find the address or phone number, but in vain, there were none. So they wanted to contact the lost and found department tomorrow morning.
They were happy to be able to return the laptop in person directly to Wolfgang. He thanked them from the bottom of his heart for their honesty and gave them all the money he had with him – which was unfortunately not so much, yet they were both very grateful. He also gave them a talk about Christmas and prayed with them. One of them – Muhammad from Tunisia – then told us that during the prayer he got goosebumps completely and hugged Wolfgang in all the euphoria. We learned from them that they are sleeping in a car that their acquaintance leaves unlocked for them. We were glad that we could at least make Christmas a little more pleasant for them in return.
So this is how we experienced a personal Christmas miracle and we thank God and his homeless Christmas ‘angels’ – Sven and Mohamed – for saving our holidays this year!
-Lenka with.
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Christmas can reveal the best in every person. At this time, we look up, seeking peace and hope, and open ourselves to others in the desire for reconciliation. tho R. Keane
So I think about the shepherds who guarded their flocks on the edge of Bethlehem the night Jesus was born. They must have been cold, hungry, and the work was long and tiring. They probably didn’t think that something great awaited them in life, professionally or any other. But when an angel appeared, announcing the good news of Jesus’ birth, followed by angel choirs singing on the highs, I bet that they felt love, hope, joy and excitement, which forever transformed the lifeless toil of their lives. tho M. Alveroová
May your life be filled with God’s love this Christmas and may many of his wonderful gifts accompany you in the next year as well.
