The Christmas Story

The Sunday school children did a small skit at our church this morning, complete with angels, shepherds, manger, a trough covered with hay, the baby Jesus, and the usual images of the Christmas story. And though we all knew what to expect, yet it was intriguing to watch.

I visited another church this afternoon and there was also a skit about the Christmas story, this time, a little more sophisticated, but the story is the same. It was wonderful and it set me thinking...

Though we are all familiar with the images of Christmas story, viewing them never fails to bring in the Spirit of Christmas in a greater way to our awareness. What would it be if we were in a place where there were no pictures of Christmas and no re-enactment of the birth of Christ at this time of year? Though we know the story, we would have a sense of shallowness about Christmas. We might even forget the day and what it stands for. We would feel empty indeed.

And as I think about our Christmas activities, I realize it is God himself who is reminding us through others like ourselves of His greatest gift to mankind: His Son.

There’s something appealing about the Christmas story. It never goes stale. Though we know the story, a Christmas skit or play is interesting to watch or be a part of. This reminds me of an Old Covenant text that says we are to “lay up the Lord’s words in our hearts and souls and teach them to our children when we are in our houses or walking in the way, when we lie down and when we rise up, and write them upon our doorposts and on our gates.”

In other words, we are to tell our children and their children about the wondrous works of the Lord, over and over again, so that these stories are indelibly etched in our minds and the minds of our children.

My wish for you and yours is Life, Light and Love during this Christmas season, the coming New Year, and beyond...

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).