Two Christmas Concerts

First of all, if you're reading this in face book, there are a couple of videos below. So look over there and glonk "view original post" to see the real deal. Or heck, go here...http://thewhitlers.com

Our family is in Kentucky. We are here on grace alone. Some friends here did a facebook campaign to raise money and a generous donor in California paid for the rest of our tickets here. When I saw the best times to fly and that the dates lined up with Andrew Peterson's Behold The Lamb Of God concert at the historic Ryman auditorium in Nashville, I thought, "That's a nice thought but it'll never work to get into town and we'll never afford tickets for all of us!"

Then, another supporter gave us money to do something special with my Sister and her kids. To say they have had a rough year is an understatement. Then I thought, "Well, the money's there now but there is no way everyone's schedule will line up!"

Then, I talked to my Sister about it and everyone got off work and school and we even secured free hospitality in Nashville. Then I thought, "There's probably no tickets left."

So I went to the Ryman website and sure enough, they were sold out.

Then, I emailed Andrew Peterson.

Then he told me to contact his management.

Then they called me immediately and released 11 tickets for us to be able to go.

Then my credit card didn't work.

Then they said the machine had been acting up. They were fine for me to just mail a check!

So we went!

I couldn't believe it worked. I just kept waiting for something to go wrong and it never did. It was such a good show. A dream come true. And they ended the night with us all singing together “Oh Come Let Us Adore Him...” and then Andrew started us singing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.” And by that time, the stage was empty and the only star was Jesus.

THIS is a video from the same show but last year...



The very next day, we went to another concert at Dad’s nursing home. It was so good to see him. There he was, sitting out with all the others waiting for the Christmas party to start. His face was priceless when we rounded the corner. We were the biggest stars in the world to him. We sat and listened to a small choir from a local church.

Dad is in advanced stages of a dementing illness that has stolen much of his ability to talk, walk, remember and care for himself. Recently, he got to the point where he needed more care than family could provide.

The choir director turned to intro the 3rd song and shared from his heart about Christmas. Then they sang. Then I noticed Dad was singing. There is no music, not even music at the Ryman, that is better than listening to a little choir with beautiful hearts sing to all of us in that nursing home about the joy and spirit of Christmas. It was so good to just be in that audience and be the honored recipient of such a regal gift. It’s too much. We had to turn that kind of glory back to God and sing to him ourselves. He has made this time possible. Again, the only star is Jesus.