O Holy Night

O Holy Night

 “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths

 and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

            The air was cold that night and the group of shepherds huddled together by the fire trying to keep warm.  It was an ordinary night in the hills outside of Bethlehem.   They talked about their families and the fear they had of King Herod. 

            In Bethlehem, the inn keeper was still grumbling about all the people he had to deal with.  He was happy to have so many staying with him, but now it was full and he had to turn away several.  The young couple stayed on his mind.  The woman looked so tired and it was obvious she was about to deliver a child.  Out of the goodness of his heart, he let them stay in the stable, but what a terrible place to give birth to a child.

            In the stable, Joseph piled clean straw as far from the animals as he could.  He then took off his cloak and laid it over the mound of straw.  Mary quickly lay down and Joseph covered her with her cloak.  He could see the tears in her eyes; tears of fear.  She was young and inexperienced; wishing her mother could be there.  She would know what to do.

            This is the way it was that first Christmas; everything was set in place for the greatest event in history.  The angels were gathered together in anticipation of what was about to take place. One angel was surrounded by a great light that shone all around them.  Joy was on the face of each angel as they sang praises to the Almighty One.

            Back in Bethlehem, out of the stillness of the night a baby’s cry rang out.  It woke the innkeeper from a restless sleep and he smiled sleepily and then fell into a peaceful sleep. Other people in the inn woke up to a bright light shining in their faces only to look out at the brightest star in the sky they had ever seen.

Out on the hillside, the shepherds had just settled down by the fire when an angel appeared to them.  The Glory of God was all around them and they were so afraid they covered their faces with their arms and were ready to run when the angel called out, “Don’t be afraid.  I came to bring you the best news you ever heard.  A baby was just born in a stable in Bethlehem, who is Jesus Christ, Savior of the world.”

As the shepherds stood there, their mouths open in shock, the whole sky was suddenly filled with angels and they were all singing and glorifying God.  They sang about the earth being filled with peace and love for each other.  Just as quickly as they came – they left and the sky was dark except for a brilliant star shining down over Bethlehem. Forgotten were the sheep as the shepherds hurriedly walked down the path towards Bethlehem.

In the stable, Mary held her newborn baby close to her breast. She had brought swaddling cloths to wrap her baby in.  Joseph had taken a small manger, filled it with fresh hay, covered it up with soft cloth and set it beside Mary for a cradle.  They had settled down when they heard voices outside the stable.  Joseph rose quickly and peered out the entrance.  There stood a group of shepherds; their faces filled with wonder as they told Joseph about the angels and their message.

Joseph went back inside and spoke to Mary who nodded and laid the baby in the manger.  Then he went back and asked the shepherds to enter.  When they looked in the manger and saw the baby, they all knelt down on the stable floor and worshipped the Child. Tears ran slowly down Mary’s face and Joseph looked on in wonder. They both realized, in that holy moment, that this child was truly the Son of God.  They were amazed that God had chosen them to be the parents of their Savior and they also worshipped the Lord. 

“Joy to the world, the Lord has come; let earth receive her King.”

A Week Before Christmas

A Week Before Christmas

A true story – Christmas in 1963

            It was just one week before Christmas when I finally awoke to the fact that my shopping wasn’t even half finished.  I really meant to get it finished early this year, but I was too involved in making wreaths, spraying pine cones and just thinking about all I had to do.

            Then too, I kept expecting some surprise check to come in the mail.  I didn’t know where it would come from, but it was a nice thought.  Why hadn’t I joined that Christmas Savings club last year?  Oh well, I’d just have to stretch that paycheck a little bit further even if it was already like worn out elastic.

           Early one morning I set out with determination, if not enthusiasm, to finish my shopping.  I checked my list out over morning coffee; I thought that knowing what I wanted was half the battle.

            Arriving downtown, on Western Avenue, I drove around looking for a parking spot. I felt like I had received my first Christmas gift when thirty-five minutes later I pulled into an empty space.  Once in the stores I smiled bravely when elbows crashed into my sides; oversized packages hit me in the face and when other people thought my feet were just bumps in the floor.  After inching my way to a certain counter and found they were ‘out of stock’, I had to wipe a tear from my eye.  The clerk tried to be helpful by suggesting other stores that might carry the item I was looking for.  Of course those were the stores where I had already been and they were at least four blocks away.

            At last the day was over and I checked off the final item on my list.  I was cold and hungry and hadn’t taken time to eat.  TIME! The parking meter was half a block away and I could see the little white paper fluttering on the windshield of my car.  With a black heart, I thought to myself, “I bet it even says ‘Merry Christmas’ on it.

            Reaching the car, I found that I could not get the keys out of my purse without putting down all the packages.  Those in my left arm were shifted to my hip and then slide them over onto the trunk lid. I then unwound the string handles of the over-weighted shopping bag from my right arm, only to find the circulation had been shut off so long my hand was numb.

            As I clumsily unlocked the door of the car, I noticed my packages were slowly sliding off the trunk with the melting snow.  Making a quick grab, I somehow caught them and piled all of them in the car, which was quite a feat, being one handed at the moment.

            Sometime late I pulled into my driveway and glancing at my watch, was shocked at the lateness of the time.  The children would be home from school in ten minutes.  I jumped out of the car and began grabbing packages.  By this time I could use both of my hands, but in my hurrying, the shopping bag slipped and fell to the ground, ripping and spilling its contents in the snow.  I gathered up an armload and slipped and slid up the slippery walk.  Once inside I deposited the load on the living room floor.  Huffing and puffing I ran back out to get the rest.

            It was then I began a rare balancing act – first on one foot, then a foot and an arm and for the grand finale; the posterior and one elbow.  The former being well padded only bounced, but the elbow suffered.   With what little dignity I had left, I gathered my various parts in order and again one-handed, managed to get the remainder of the packages into the house.

            My elbow was beginning to get a strong feeling in it as I crammed everything into my bedroom closet.  I closed the door just as the children all tromped in from school. Susie, bless her heart, had thought to bring in the mail.  Glancing quickly through the pile of bills, I came across a familiar shaped envelope.  I knew before my shaking hands opened it, that it was our first Christmas card.  I collapsed into the nearest chair as I thought of the neatly stacked boxes of cards on the shelf that hadn’t been addressed yet.

            Weary, in pain and faint from hunger, I got to my feet and went into the kitchen to prepare supper.  My only thought was to hold on until my husband came home and then he could take over.  I would swallow two aspirins, crawl into bed and address cards while resting.  It would save time and the way I felt; maybe even my life.

            A car crunched to a stop in the drive; “He’s home” I thought with joy and reached for the aspirin bottle.  He came in singing, “Jingle Bells” and dragging what looked to me, like a twenty foot pine tree.  Propping it against the refrigerator he called out, “Merry Christmas, wife,” it’s the night to trim the tree.”

Not getting a response, he asked, “Why are you crying?  What’s wrong?”

Sniffing loudly, I dried my tears and tried to smile, but when I moved the pain shot right through my elbow.  When I finally pulled off my sweater, I was surprised to see a lump the size of a big Christmas ornament right on the tip of my elbow.  The color dazzled my eyes; a shiny blue-black.  He looked at it and was sure it was cracked and from the way it felt, I had to agree.

            A call to the doctor; a trip to the hospital and several x-rays later, the verdict was that I had a badly bruised elbow that was to be kept wrapped in a vertical position for more than a week while the swelling went down.

Home again; my husband fixed supper; his specialty of cold scrambled eggs and burned toast.  It was a jolly affair with the children laughing at me while I clumsily ate with my left hand, spilling food and trying to butter the toast one-handed.

            After entertaining the family during our meal, I took advantage of the sofa while they erected the pine tree that just wouldn’t stand up straight.

            It was late that night when I crawled into bed.  The pain pills helped a little, but I was tense and miserable thinking about the baking, cleaning, gift wrapping and the other million things to be done in the few remaining days before Christmas.  “How do you roll out sugar cookies with one hand,” I mused?  “I wish there wasn’t such a thing as Christmas.”

            At that moment, I heard music coming from down the street; a group of carolers blending their voices in “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.”  Hot tears began to trickle down my cheeks and the anxiety drifted away.  A prayer found its way into my weary mind.  “Forgive me, Father,” I prayed, “the blessing of Christmas somehow slipped by me.”

            I had been so wrapped up in all the preparation parts of Christmas and gave no thought to the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

            With my heart back on the right road and thinking of the joy that Christmas brings to each of us, peace began to flood my soul.  I knew that everything was going to be alright.  After all, “all things work together for the good of those who love God.” 

        Muskegon Michigan - 1960’s        

Christmas on Sunday?

Christmas on Sunday?

“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,

but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD’s holy day.”

Isaiah 58:13 (NLT)

You would think that Christmas Day falling on a Sunday this year was a tragic event that was going to ruin everyone’s life from tiny babies to old-timers. I have never heard of so many complaints.  Yet it happens every so many years.  It will happen again in 2022, 2033, and 2039 and on and on.  It’s happened in the past and all have survived. 

 

How do the vast majority handle this earth shaking event?  “Well, you won’t see me in church on Christmas day.”  “This would be too traumatic for my kids.”  We have traditions and we aren’t breaking them.”  “I have so many coming for dinner; I wouldn’t have time to go to church.”  Well, I could tell you of many other excuses people have, but I have a lot of suggestions to fix these if anyone cares to listen.

This is a time in the history of our country when we need to join conservative groups who want to “put Christ back in Christmas.”  We are sending the wrong message to today’s culture when we put ourselves and our children first and worship as an option.

I want to share this anonymous quote, “It’s Christmas for crying out loud! It’s the day we celebrate the incarnation, the birth of the Messiah, the entrance into our world of the second Person of Trinity. Don’t we want to sing? Don’t we want to celebrate? Don’t we want to preach and praise and pray?”

Here’s another quote, “Family is a gift, not a god. I love, love, love waking up on Christmas, doing the Advent wreath with the kids, having a big brunch, and opening presents with the family. Yes, it will be hectic to get everyone out of the house for church. Yes, it will mean a delay in all the normal festivities. But maybe the normal festivities should not be deemed more important than the Festival itself. I want my family to know that we rearrange our schedule for corporate worship; we don’t expect corporate worship to be rearranged for us.”

These quotes really say it all and I can’t add much to them. My daughter said to me the other day, “How can I not go to church Christmas morning to worship Jesus whom Christmas is all about?  It would be an insult to the Lord and a poor example to others if I did my own thing and left Him out.”

I recently did a lot of studying about Christmas and found some interesting facts, some of what I already knew but are worth sharing here.  Basically the way we practice Christmas had its roots in paganism.  Down through the centuries the celebrations have changed drastically from the Roman’s ungodly festival of Saturnalia to what we practice today.

Even though Christmas trees, gift giving and even Santa Claus come from pagan practices, they have become ‘Family Traditions’.  Most of us have grown up with these traditions and they have nothing to do with anything ungodly.  For myself, everything is centered on my family; getting together, exchanging gifts and eating special foods.  When my children were young I made a birthday cake for Jesus and we would sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him, somehow that tradition didn’t continue.

 I wish it would have because it brings Jesus into our celebration which should be about Him!  This year Christmas comes on Sunday and what a joy it is to celebrate the birthday of our Savior.  After all, He should come first in our lives, our families and our celebrations.

Christmas on a Small Budget

Christmas on a Small Budget

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT) 

                                         Those who love money will never have enough.                                                                How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!                                                

          What became of our values regarding holidays, gifts and joy?  Let me take you back to the early 1900’s and what Christmas was all about. Christmas became a Federal Holiday in 1870 and Christmas for the average family amounted to maybe a knitted scarf or mittens and possibly a stick of candy or carved toy for the children.  Many didn’t even have Christmas trees, but families had traditions.  Some families had a quiet time in the evening and someone read the story of Jesus from the Bible. Most people had Bibles even if there were no other books in the home.  Generally, a special family dinner was served and neighbors and friends joined in the celebration.

          Over the next thirty years, things changed dramatically; it became more commercial each year.  Stores were packed with toys, Santa Claus appeared in almost every store and Christmas music filled the air.  Even window dressings became animated with elves, trees and gifts of all kind. However, the ‘reason for the season’ could be found in every city, town and village.  Nativity scenes were found in city squares, parks and in front of churches of all kinds.

          Then the World War II brought more changes in the late 30’s and in the 40’s.  Even though the celebrations continued, there was a solemnness that overshadowed it.  Young men, fathers, brothers and neighbors were far from home in other countries fighting in war-torn lands.  Our boys were there fighting so war would not reach our land.  I know this because my older brother was one of those fighting.

          Money was not plentiful for families during war time; so many things were hard to get and even food was rationed.  I still have some of those ration stamps.  I was so young then that I didn’t realize the lack of anything.  So when Christmas came around, my dad cut a tree and my older sister decorated it. Soon wrapped packages appeared under it. I was so excited I couldn’t wait for the big day to come.

          The week before Christmas, things got really mysterious.  Doors were closed and I was told to stay out.  I couldn’t open closet doors or even open dresser drawers.  Mother baked all kinds of goodies, but the best was that she had saved as much sugar as she could so she could make our homemade Fudge (sugar was also rationed).  It was cut in very small pieces and we could only have a piece now and then.  I do remember it was the best tasting fudge I ever had and I savored each bite.

          It was Christmas Eve at last.  We went to church and sang wonderful Christmas Carols that I still love today. We were given bags of candy with an apple and a peppermint stick in each bag.  In my mind, when we left church it was snowing big white flakes which were falling softly on my cheeks and nose.  It was magical to me and it seemed to be like the song we sang in church, Silent Night, Holy Night. 

          When we arrived at home, it was my bedtime and I begged to stay up and see Santa Claus, but to no avail.  I was tucked into my bed and prayers were said; I cried because I wanted to see my ‘Brovey’.  My mother prayed with me for my brother to be kept safe wherever he was that night.

          I jumped out of bed Christmas morning and ran into the living room where our tree was already lighted.  I don’t know what I expected to find, but lined up across the back of the sofa was every doll and teddy bear I had; even a stuffed clown.  Each of them were wearing new clothes right down to crocheted booties on their feet.  I didn’t know which one to play with first.  There was no new doll or fancy toy, but I loved all the old ones in new clothes.  Of course, as always, there were several new books, because I loved books and a new dress my mother made for me.  I had no idea that my parents had no money to buy new toys and such. I just thought it was a fabulous Christmas and still remember it as one of my favorites.

          I grew up knowing that Jesus was the most important thing about Christmas but today it seems that Christmas is all about gifts; expensive gifts and lots of them.  If your children love you, they will still love and what you give them, even if it’s less expensive than what they wanted. Point out to them the miracle of Baby Jesus in the manger.  Then point to the Cross and tell them again that God sent his only son so they can live forever. 

          Get them gifts that mean something to them, because all the money you spend won’t bring them happiness or joy.  Yes, they might be happy for a while, but it won’t last.  Teach them that giving is the best part of Christmas and will really make them happy.  Include them in making something for a neighbor or friend who doesn’t have much.  It doesn’t need to be expensive, but it shows that person that you care and that’s worth more than any amount of money.  Give from your heart and not your wallet.

          Above all, don’t forget why we celebrate Christmas; share the good news with friends and family, “Today, in Bethlehem, a Savior was born, who is Christ the Lord”

Every Knee Will Bow.