The Story of Advent
December 17th , 2022
Fort Smith...late November... 1953.
Dr. Josephs walked into the exam room and introduced himself. He then lifted Maggie's radiograph to the overhead light. Daughter Jennifer was with her. "You picked cotton as a young girl, didn't you?" he asked. "Why... yes I did," Maggie responded. "How did you know that?" "It's evident from the way your spine looks... no wonder you have back problems." "Well, I had to go to the fields to help support the family... I was the oldest." "How many mouths were there?" "By high school... eleven... I was always carrying babies around, too." "And what did your father do?" "He was a drunkard." "So was Daddy," Jennifer added. "Goodness," Dr. Josephs said wide-eyed, "you hurt in more ways than one, don't you?" "Yes she does," Jennifer answered. Maggie Sue Podge... eighty-one with three grown daughters, six grown and almost-grown grandchildren, had been widowed from her alcoholic husband for twenty years. Within doctor, patient, and daughter, emotion descended and welled. "If I could have some relief," Maggie said through sniffles, "last Christmas was spent in bed... my back... the other doctor wasn't--" "--any help," Jennifer said through her own sniffles.. "Doctor," Maggie began, "a great-grandbaby is coming in December.... a newborn with Baby Jesus... most marvelous, don't you think?" Dr. Josephs, remembering his own mother's back problems, responded, "I want to help you have a marvelous Christmas." Eyes closed, Maggie prayed softly, "Please... come Lord." With an arm around her mom's shoulder, Jennifer added, "Amen." And Advent entered with threefold hope for Maggie Sue Podge: Togetherness, great-grandbaby, and Baby Incarnate. And Hope did not disappoint.
- Larry Inman