A kindergarten Sunday School teacher was working hard to get her class to focus on the story of Jesus’ birth, and to stop thinking about Santa Claus. She read the story over and over to them, and for good measure, taught them to sing ‘Silent Night’. Finally, she asked them to draw their own designs for Christmas cards.

One youngster had done a very fine job in drawing the baby in a manger, with Mary and Joseph and the animals; but the teacher noticed with anxiety that he had drawn a little fat man right beside the manger. She asked, “Jimmy, that isn’t Santa, is it?”

Jimmy answered indignantly, “Oh no, that’s Round John Virgin.”

It was the first day back to school after Christmas vacation and the teacher was not ready for school and was not overly prepared. She used a good bit of the morning by going around the room and asking each child to tell how he or she spent Christmas.

The first boy said, “Well, we are Catholics and we went to midnight Mass and came home and went right to bed. The next morning we had a big breakfast and sat around the Christmas tree and opened all our presents.”

The second child then told her experience. “We are United Methodists but we did about the same thing. We went to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service and came home and went to bed We had a big Christmas breakfast and then opened all our presents.”

The third child then said, “Well, we aren’t Christians. But we did have a big breakfast and opened presents around the tree. Then we all got into the car and went downtown to my dad’s department store. He showed us all the empty shelves. He showed us all the money. Then we made a circle around the cash register, joined hands, and sang, ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’.”

At dinner one evening Tommy misbehaved. His father, always the strict disciplinarian, reprimanded him saying, “Tommy, if you do not behave you will be sent to your room!” Tommy did not pay attention. Ordered from the room he heard his father’s last words, “And there will be no more food for you tonight!”

Later, in bed, Tommy’s thoughts of his behavior began to bother him. He was hungry. He couldn’t remember ever having felt more alone or alienated. He began to cry. Then he heard a noise on the stairs. Footsteps came closer to his room. His door opened and his father came in. Closing the door he came over to Tommy’s bed and said, “I love you, son, and I’ve come to spend the night with you.”

Now, isn’t that a great illustration of what Christmas is all about? God coming to spend the night with us.

There was a small voice that penetrated the stillness of the night. It came from the bedroom across the hall. “Daddy, I’m scared!” Out of his groggy, fuzzy state, the father responded with, “Honey, don’t be afraid, Daddy’s right across the hall.”

After a very brief pause the little voice was heard again, “I’m still scared.” Always quick with an insight, Dad responded, “You don’t need to be afraid. God is with you. God loves you.” This time the pause is longer…but the voice returned, “I don’t care about God, Daddy. I want someone with skin!”

Perhaps the logic of the little boy is exactly the reason God saw the necessity of sending His Son with skin on; so we could relate to God on our terms. So we could see God’s care right before our eyes. And so He could understand what we feel, as well. That’s the Incarnation: Someone with skin on.

Does Christmas stress you? I don’t think its the birth of Christ that adds stress to our lives, its everthing else we allow to creep in. Two days ago I took a vacation day to catch up on my Christmas shopping and wrapping and catch up on some things around my study. I was so engrossed in taking care of those things I forgot to Blog that day!

Today I went into the Lab at the hospital for what I thought was a simple blood test. After they drew my blood they told me to wait in the lobby. Fifteen minutes later they gave me some fruit punch (pretty well pure syrup) and told me to rest for two hours!!!, and they would then draw blood again (testing for pre-diabetes). I was bored out of my gord. That wasted pretty well my entire morning.

By the time I finally got into the office, I was already a day and a half short this week and needed to get ready for the weekend. It wasn’t Christmas that stressed me out, but all things added on top of Christmas.

So, if we want to blame the reason I haven’t added a Blog for two days on Christmas, we can. But I won’t, because God’s design for Christmas is peace on earth, not chaos. God, help me rest in You.

How are you doing with Christmas stress?

Yesterday we put my father into Betz Nursing Home, as my mother cannot continue to care for him. He is on hospice and decided to go there of his own accord. Its not easy watching your once strong parents wane.

While preparing for the move, we were going through some old papers Dad had in his safe, and came across an old faded envelope with this writing on the front: “Merry Christmas to Ralphie from Grandpa and Grandma”. It didn’t appear to be my Grandpa’s writing, so I think Grandma must have written it. It had apparently once had a dollar in it, but has long since been empty. My Grandma Diehl died in 1955 when I was eight and Grandpa died in 1963.

Why do you suppose my Dad would have kept that old empty envelope in his safe anyway? Perhaps he knew how much that old envelope would mean to me someday? Well, the day has come and I really do cherish that relic of the past: A Christmas memory I can’t even remember.

I would love to know if you also have such a Christmas memory.