The greatest Christmas Pageant I’ve ever seen.
We were invited to the Fundacion Pro-Integracion de Panama because we have seen many of their patients. The Handicap Foundation of Boquete is the local chapter of the Handicap Foundation of Panama, otherwise known as la Fundacion Pro-Integracion de Panama, capitulo de Boquete. The Foundation supports disabled members of the community, focusing on those with minimal economic resources. They provide an open, welcoming social environment and can provide individuals with: wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes and hearing aids.
Why was it the greatest Christmas Pageant ever for me? Not because of eloquent singing and dialogue….most can’t or don’t talk. Not because of the profound, creative content….even though they did a great job with what they had. It was because of three things. The disabled in the pageant were thrilled to be a part of the celebration and God was pleased with that. Second is the tremendous love of the caregivers who devoted their lives for them. Thirdly because of the powerful impact on those of us who were their guests.
Mary was not able to focus for very long. Joseph fell asleep, Baby Jesus just laid there and didn’t move. The angelic choir was adorned with their angel wings sometimes attached to their wheelchairs and sometimes they fell off or were bent. The little drummer boy was helped by his cousin to play pa-rum-pa-pum pum. His face beamed….as the story of the poor boy did to give Jesus such a wonderful gift…all he had. There are times like this that no matter how hard you bite your lip, the tears flowed…full and without shame. Santa came to give gifts but the greatest gift was the profundity of joy those of us who had the privilege to attend received that day.
Please take the time to click on the following short slide show of this special day.
Love and blessing to all and Merry Christmas,
Mario and Linda
No comments:
Post a Comment