Several years ago, as I sat watching the children in the never-ending line to sit in Santa’s lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas, I noticed an elderly lady having difficulty standing in the line. I offered to let her sit on the bench in full view of us while I stood in line with the two children. She was grateful to be able to sit down. It seemed like an eternity before our time finally arrived.
The children told Santa what they wanted and each whispered something in his ear. Then, they excitedly ran to the lady (whom I learned was Great Grandmother). The lady thanked me and asked if I would join them for a treat. As we settled into our seats I noticed there was a little book sticking out of the little girl’s purse. I asked what it was. She proudly presented a copy of “A Visit From St. Nicholas.” I discovered GamGam had given it to her, and that GamGam could recite the whole thing without even looking. “Tell it to us again, GamGam.”GamGam’s eye twinkled as she started, “Twas the night before Christmas ….” The children were smiling and giggling with delight as GamGam told about St. Nicholas, the reindeer, the sleigh, the toys, etc.
When the poem ended, the children were laughing and clapping and excitedly telling GamGam that St. Nick was coming to see them that very night to bring them presents and telling her all the things they had asked him to bring them.
The poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” that begins with “‘Twas the night before Christmas” is one most of you can probably recite or sing for memory. It was first published anonymously in 1823. After publication, two men, Clement Clarke Moore and Henry Livingston, Jr., claimed to have authored the poem. With its vividly colorful language, the poem conjures images in our mind’s eye of so many of the things the world associates with Christmas.
GamGam asked them if they knew the REAL Christmas story. The children’s eyes were wide with anticipation as they said, “YES, tell us, pleeeeeaaaaase!” GamGam began, “And it came to pass in those days ….” (Ahhhh… I love hearing the King James Version of Luke’s account!) She animatedly told about the angel appearing to the shepherds, and their reactions, and the heavenly host, and how the shepherds went to find the baby in the manger.
She paused for a minute and said, “But I started in the middle of the story. She then told about God creating the world and Holy God reconciling sinful man to Himself. She told of God’s son, Jesus, having to leave heaven to be born of a virgin woman, a human being, who laid this baby in a manger, and watched this baby boy grow into a Man Who was perfect and sinless. Because he was fully God and fully man, yet sinless, He alone was able to take our sin upon Himself as he hung and died on the cross.
“Yet, the story of Christmas DOES NOT END there,” she continued, “for He conquered death and rose from the grave. He then ascended to the throne of heaven and even now sits at the right hand of the throne of GOD ALMIGHTY!
If it were not for God’s precious Gift, His Son, we would be hopelessly lost and doomed for an eternity of separation from God!
As we are enjoying our family’s Christmas traditions, or missing being able to enjoy those traditions, may we be receive His Story with the same excitement and wonder that we see in the eyes of children as they hear about St. Nicholas.
“I cannot tell why He Whom angels worship, Should set His love upon the sons of men,” (William Young Fullerton). I Cannot Tell is sung to the tune of “Londonderry Air.” In case you aren’t familiar with “Londonderry Air” perhaps you’ll be familiar with “Danny Boy” (one of my Grandmother Callie Thomason’s favorite songs) which is sung to the tune, “Londonderry Air.”
I pray we will be overwhelmed with awe as we celebrate the coming of JESUS, THE MESSIAH, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!
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