Dillon Community Church

One of my best Christmas memories was when I was about 12 or 13 years old. We lived in rural Iowa where the winters were usually very cold. After being bundled up tight, and with my other brothers and sisters, Mom and Dad would take us for evening winter hikes. Usually right after Sunday dinner, where we would head down the old road in the back side of Black Hawk Park, along the Cedar River. We had hiked this trail many times before while growing up. Always seeing white tail deer, fox, and other little creatures. Snowball fights, angels in the snow and laughter always kept us as warm as possible.

This night was different. It was very quiet as the big flakes of snow fell silently on my face. Walking in the twilight with my family, I felt a sense that this might be my last time hiking down this trail. My senses were amped up to a higher level! Somewhat fearful, no, maybe anxious. No, maybe excited. Trying to figure it out, I kept thinking about what I had done. That morning, in our youth group at the basement of our Church. I declared Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! Looking back on that moment, I know that it was Jesus and the Holy Spirit filling me up with an increased sense of awareness which eventually turned to Joy. I was in the infantile stage of Christianity. This was truly an AHA moment in my life!

Merry Christmas, 

Mike Graham, elder        

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