"Unto You Is Born This Night..."

A True Story By Rachel Aardsma

If you were to walk down a quiet, usually deserted old lane called Mulberry Street, located in a quiet and unimportant town called Loda, come through the swinging black gate, walk up the lawn and stand looking in the big bay window, what would you see on this cold, still Christmas Eve night? Let us pull back the curtain and take a peek.

Ah! It's a family! Don't you see, the mother, the father, the children? Perhaps all the family is not there--there are older children who will be celebrating this holiday with their own families and children--but in most of the hearts gathered close tonight, we can find a strong feeling that those close by are the true family.

There sits the father, a quiet, tall man who watches with tender pride and satisfaction glowing in his eyes the faces of his family. Etched on his face we see something strange. The ravages of a recent severe illness can still be seen. It is not too apparent, and when his family compare this newly strong and healthy man with the sick, weak one who sat in the same place one year earlier, they cannot help but feel a strong sense of gratitude. The father has not escaped hardship in his life. There are problems, issues, worries, but tonight all is forgotten in the joy of the season.

By his side sits his wife, the faithful woman who has stood by him through poverty, sickness, sorrow, and trials for thirty-three years. She has borne him ten children, raised them well, and launched them into the world fully prepared to stand their ground against the evils and temptations all around them. In her face too, we catch a glimpse of something odd. It is sorrow, for she, too, has had her share of trials. We can see in her face that she has wept perhaps too many tears for a woman her age, but tonight her family is delighted to see only quiet joy and happiness in her face.

There he sits, the eldest boy at home. But can we truly call him a boy? He is not yet a man but he left boyhood behind many years ago. He carries more responsibility than perhaps many men do, but we see in his eyes the boyish sparkle of fun, excitement, and the joy of being alive as he gathers with his family for this special celebration.

On the couch we find the eldest girl at home. She, too, is caught in the strange, sweet years between girlhood and womanhood. Let us see what we can find in her face. There, see, is maturity, sweetness, grace, and true love for her family. She sits quiet, happily watching the antics of her family and laughing out at each little family joke. We see the brilliant color the excitement has given her and we must smile as well, she looks so joyful and happy.

And what is to be said of the girl who sits beside her? She who looks the woman and is yet still the girl? She sits still as well, cradling a tabby cat in her arms, watching with delighted eyes the happiness around her. She is recalling the Christmas of the year before, a time when sadness prevailed and this happiness and excitement was dampened. Her heart fills with gratitude to God for preserving her family through this long year and bringing them safe together into this wonderful time.

Let's turn to the other side of the room and take a look at these two bouncing, everywhere-at-once young boys who have such excitement in their eyes! The older of the two tries to sit still and succeeds most of the time, but his merry laugh rings out oftener then any other, and his voice can be heard spreading cheer throughout the room. His face is not yet marred with any great sadness or trial, he is a boy still.

Oh, and where is that last one, the youngest? Can we get him to stay still long enough for us to take a look? Watch him as he tumbles about the room, clutching his chosen gift of the evening! Now he is sitting still, look while you can. See that lovely expression of excitement on his face. Here we see the childhood Christmas-time joy clearly expressed.

Yes, there is the family. Take a glance around the room while we are here. See all those presents under the brightly-lit tree. See the manger scene on the piano. Admire the antique bookshelves filled with often-read books. Watch the flames of four scented candles flicker and cast shadows on the walls of the room. And yet what causes this scene to have such a soft glow to it? What makes it so truly beautiful? Take one more look at those faces. Remember what we saw in them? It is in those faces we find the soft glow, and in those hearts there is a glow perhaps brighter, for there we find each one silently offering prayers to the Man who was born this very night to Mary and Joseph in some quiet stable in Bethlehem.

Let's put the curtain back and leave this family to their Eve together. We have seen enough. My, what a night! Look, it's begun to snow, and see how cold it is! We should go in.

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who as pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave brith to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all men." (Luke 2:4-14)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

The Weekly Bible Verse

Luke 1:30-31: But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus."

Bits and Pieces

Wow! What a week! We got lots more snow, and did some pretty fun things with it! For example, Caleb and Timmy built a fort/castle/igloo/house out of snow. Caleb did most of the work, proudly cutting and carting snow around. And then Matthew, Beka, and I made a giant snow-man. It all started when Mom was gone shopping with Timmy and Caleb, and Matthew wanted to 'play in the snow'. So, out we went to play. When we were out there in all that lovely, packable snow, we decided to make a giant snowman, the biggest ever made, in fact. So we began rolling and packing and shoveling snow to make our giant snowman. It was a lot of work! Once our huge snowman was done, we added empty shot-gun cartriges for eyes, a long piece of wood for a nose, twigs for buttons, long sticks for arms, and dead morning-glory vines for hair and a bow-tie. The crowning thing, was, however, the snow-shovel we put in the snowman's 'hand'. It looked very nice when we were done.

"O, Christmas Tree, O, Christmas Tree..." Photo by me.

A Word of Humor

While we were building our snowman, we kept remarking about how we had not done this kind of thing in years, etc. As Matthew carried a big armful of snow up and packed it onto the growing ball, he said, "You know, this is so..." He paused, searching for the right word. "This is so...fun."