Here is an illustration about Christmas I heard thirty years ago by an unknown author that still communicates the wonder of the real meaning of Christmas to me:
"There was a man who didn't want to go to the Christmas Eve service with his family. He had decided not to go because he could not accept the truth of the gospel story. It did not make any sense to him. As he settled into his comfortable chair to read the evening newspaper, he noticed that it was beginning to snow. Later, as the wind began blowing harder and harder, the snow became blinding. He tried to go back to reading, but was distracted by a noise at his window pane. He got up to investigate the banging and noticed some small sparrows flying into the glass pane as they thought it was the path to food and warmth. As he looked out the big picture window, he saw many more shivering birds perched in the bushes. He thought about their plight, put on his overcoat and boots, and went out the front door.
He decided to open the barn door so the birds could roost in the shelter for the night. They did not move towards the barn. So, he tried sprinkling bread crumbs on a path to the barn. He thought that certainly the hungry little birds would follow--but they didn't. The man tried a different plan, getting a broom to try to chase the birds into the barn. However, this was just as futile because it scared the birds away.
Finally, in a state of hopelessness, he sat down on the barn steps and thought: "If only I could become a bird and talk to t hem. Then I could let them know I wanted to help them and save them from the cold winter storm." At that moment the clock struck midnight and the church bells began to ring announcing the arrival of Christmas Day. With a new realization dawning on him, the man knelt in the deep snow and said, "Thank you, God, for what you did for me. I now know that you became man to show me the path of salvation from a dark and cruel world."
May we all realize the tremendous sacrifice God made on our behalf and share this good news with family, friends, bank tellers, neighbors, store clerks, and anyone with whom we come into contact. Let's intentionally share that JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
"There was a man who didn't want to go to the Christmas Eve service with his family. He had decided not to go because he could not accept the truth of the gospel story. It did not make any sense to him. As he settled into his comfortable chair to read the evening newspaper, he noticed that it was beginning to snow. Later, as the wind began blowing harder and harder, the snow became blinding. He tried to go back to reading, but was distracted by a noise at his window pane. He got up to investigate the banging and noticed some small sparrows flying into the glass pane as they thought it was the path to food and warmth. As he looked out the big picture window, he saw many more shivering birds perched in the bushes. He thought about their plight, put on his overcoat and boots, and went out the front door.
He decided to open the barn door so the birds could roost in the shelter for the night. They did not move towards the barn. So, he tried sprinkling bread crumbs on a path to the barn. He thought that certainly the hungry little birds would follow--but they didn't. The man tried a different plan, getting a broom to try to chase the birds into the barn. However, this was just as futile because it scared the birds away.
Finally, in a state of hopelessness, he sat down on the barn steps and thought: "If only I could become a bird and talk to t hem. Then I could let them know I wanted to help them and save them from the cold winter storm." At that moment the clock struck midnight and the church bells began to ring announcing the arrival of Christmas Day. With a new realization dawning on him, the man knelt in the deep snow and said, "Thank you, God, for what you did for me. I now know that you became man to show me the path of salvation from a dark and cruel world."
May we all realize the tremendous sacrifice God made on our behalf and share this good news with family, friends, bank tellers, neighbors, store clerks, and anyone with whom we come into contact. Let's intentionally share that JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
