The Night Roxy Stopped a Christmas Parade

 

The parade was flowing. Lights were flashing, children were laughing, shouting, “Merry Christmas.” Hoping for candy to come sailing.  

We had a great spot. All of us, together, family. Kids made curb their chair. Adults behind on folding chairs.

Victoria was walking, smiling, watching; it was a wonderful life…until it wasn’t.

Roxy was sitting, watching, smiling. Enjoying the joy she saw in her grandkids, more than the glitter and lights of the parade.

Until, a little girl blocked her view.

The little girl, who moments before, was walking, smiling, watching…suddenly froze. Her little mouth trembled, her eyes went wide and spilled.  Her little feet only a foot from Roxy’s chair.

In less than a breath, she was wrapped in a hug, the kind only a grandma can give. Roxy didn’t need to say a word. Just the hug, gave little Victoria the calm, and comfort, to speak.

“I c-c-can’t find my g-gramma.”

Somehow Roxy managed to walk and talk while still maintaining that grandmotherly hug.

They went about ten steps back the same way little Victoria had come.

At that very moment a big fire truck with lights flashing, horns blaring, was rolling by; with two firemen, in all their gear, strolling alongside.

But Roxy brought it all to a stop. She flagged a fireman and said something in his ear. All the while still holding the wide-eyed child.

All of a sudden, the smiling, waving, handshaking, candy giving, firemen, forgot they were in a parade. All attention was on one little girl, named Victoria.

They radioed something to someone. They stopped the truck; which stopped the flashing, blaring, rolling…and the entire parade which followed behind.

Thousands of people had come to see floats, and lights, marching bands, dancing teams and rolling nativity scenes, but they’d have to wait. At that moment, none of that mattered; because there was a little girl, who lost her granny.  

The whole world stopped.

Not one thing changed on the outside, but on the inside, for one little girl, the whole world went black.  

Some of us, have been in her shoes. We know how it goes. The moment the world goes black. The baby shoes, never used. The room, they’ll never again make messy. Two uniforms at the door… or, the year we want to forget, but never will; when our peaceful streets filled with burning, screaming, demons.

Like all of us, this little girl had become separated from family. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. We’ve wandered off and gotten lost and most of us don’t even know it. Stimulated by smiles and cheers, mesmerized by glittering lights, we walk the short street called life.  

All eyes were on Victoria, wrapped inside that hug.

The only sound was her trembling voice, “If someone could text my grandma. Can someone text my grandma? If you’d just text…”

Lord give us (and U.S.) a heart that longs for you like that little Vic, longed for her grandma.

I’d taken videos and pictures until my phone was almost dead, but I reached for it and started to ask little Vic, her grandma’s number.  

But then, in a flash, the comfort and safety of Roxy’s embrace was no longer needed.

She ripped from her arms and ran like a gazelle into the dark, between buildings, away from the lights of the street parade. All the while she was shouting at the top of her lungs. “Grandma! Wait!”

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul longs after You, O God. Psalm 42:1.

Everyone watched her disappear into the night. 

Everyone, except two. Like superheroes. Like water from a firehose, two firemen shot after her. To ensure victory for Victoria. To quench every ember of fear.

Well done.

Your part in the parade was the least noticed of all, but by far, the most appreciated.

All I could do, was whisper a prayer.

God bless the firemen, who considered the need of one, over the pleasure of many.

God bless those willing to step outside protocol and procedure to help the hurting and lift the fallen.  

God bless Roxy who didn’t consider the little girl blocking her view as a nuisance, but an opportunity.  And bless all those like her, who have eyes wide open to see the lost and hurting, and are prompt and willing to jump out of their comfort zone, and wrap a lost soul, in love.

Help us all, to be like that.

Most of all, thank You Father, for never leaving us, never forsaking us, for searching for us, and coming to us.

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23.

And God bless us, every one.

Merry Christmas.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”