On the Brighter Side: Christmas is……
On the Brighter Side: Christmas is……
A kindergarten teacher asked her students to draw a Christmas story as part of their art class at school. The little boy sitting in the back of her room, sketched a Nativity scene with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus lying in a manger. However, there was also a large, rotund fellow in the scene.
The teacher asked, “Johnny, who is this man in the Nativity picture? Did you think that Santa Claus was in the stable?”
“Oh, no, that’s not Santa Claus!” replied Johnny. “He’s the guy we sing about in Silent Night. That’s Round John Birgin.”
Erma Bombeck shares the memory of the time one of her sons gave her a tattered piece of construction paper on which he had crayoned two hands folded in prayer and a moving message, “OH COME HOLY SPIT”
Ahhhh . . . Christmas is . . . from the eyes of our children and that is special and we want to remember.
But our heads are turned to hear and listen to many phrases this season giving us their interpretations of what Christmas is.
Christmas is . . . all about the sparkle
Christmas is . . . the tree, the goodies, the lights
Christmas is . . . about the giving
Christmas is . . . ads proclaiming that if you buy their product you will have the best Christmas ever!
The reality is, with pointing us to Christmas by all the things that we do, say, buy and make happen, once Christmas is over we are left with the cold, old dreary January.
Lights are falling off of the houses, yard decorations are scattered to the neighbors’ yards, the Christmas trash has filled the garage and all the goodies are gone, except for the crumbles.
Are you ready for a change? Are you ready for a brighter Christmas that will shine in our hearts even during those beautiful, but yet, dreary winter months that lie a short distance ahead? Are you ready to look at Christmas out of the eyes of children?
Paul Harvey retold an old Christmas parable on his Chicago radio broadcast years ago. I would like to share a shortened version of this with you.
The man was not a scrooge. He was a kind, decent mostly good man. He was generous to his community and loved his family dearly.
But he didn’t believe in all of this Jesus stuff. It just didn’t make sense and he was too honest and smart to proclaim otherwise. Jesus coming to the earth to proclaim good will to all. He felt he already did this and didn’t need help from anyone.
Every Christmas his family would take off for the Christmas Eve service. This Christmas Eve was not any different. So he stayed home as they drove away for the candle service to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
As he sat alone in his living room. He heard thumping sounds on his large living room window. The thumps became louder and stronger. He got up from his chair and opened his front door. There he saw a large flock of birds huddled miserably. They had been caught in the winter storm from the day before. They were flying into the window trying to get out of the cold.
Quickly, he wrapped himself up in warm clothes and boots. Went outside and tramped through the snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide, turned on a light so the birds would know the way. But the birds would not come in.
He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around and waving his arms. Instead, they scattered in every direction . . . except towards the barn.
And that’s when he realized they were afraid of him. To them, he thought, I am a strange and terrifying creature. How can I let them know they can trust me and I care for them? They are confused, hurting from the cold environment and scared.
He thought to himself if only I could be a bird and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way — the way to the safe warm barn.
At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the cold winter wind. He stood there a moment . . . and then he knew and believed and bowed his knees in the snow.
Christmas is . . .
Fear not, for behold. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Are you weary, and feel confused? Fearful of what is coming ahead for our nation, our children, our lives? Begin this season by attending a church and hearing about the Lord Jesus, our Rescuer from a domain of darkness.
Susan Baker is a columnist for The Maryville Forum.
