Every year about this time, I wax nostalgic. I'm filled with memories of Christmas past. Here are two.
I was about 5. Every year, our families took turns hosting a Christmas party with a meal and the opening of Christmas presents. This year's celebration was at our house, Christmas Eve, after worship at church. Our Christmas tree was lit. We were getting ready to open presents. I saw packages--plural--with my name on them! All was right with the world! Until I looked out the living room window, and SANTA LOOKED BACK AT ME! He was right outside the window! His nose pressed against it, and he was looking me straight in the eye! I was sore afraid. So I hid under the card table that had been set up for present opening. My Uncle Elton crawled under the table with me. It took a while for my Uncle to talk me down from Santa Terror Mountain and out from under the table, but Elton and I emerged at last. I looked out the window. Santa was gone.
Years later I stumbled across the rubber Santa mask that my dad had worn that night. It was hidden away in the back corner of a closet. It had been a conspiracy! My dad, my Uncle, my mother, and others had been in cahoots that night! All because earlier, little Glenn had expressed doubts about Santa being real and coming at Christmas.
Let's go back even further. I 'm 3 or 4. I'm sitting next to my mother on the piano bench. She's playing Christmas carols. I'm listening closely. It's dark outside. There's ice on the window. It's snowing. We're waiting for my dad to get home. He's working overtime. My mom is playing Away in A Manger, to the tune of Cradle Song by William J. Kirkpatrick, 1895.
"Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh."
My mom pauses often as she plays the carol. She repeats phrases, so I will memorize them. She wants me to learn the music, too, so she shows me the fingering on the keyboard as she plays.
All these decades later, by the grace of God, I remember. I remember what Christmas is really all about! Not the masked Santa who appeared outside our living room window and caused me to flee for refuge under a card table. Rather, Christmas is all about the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger because there was no room for him in the inn.
"There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock 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. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” (Luke 2:8-14)
We know how the shepherds responded to that first Christmas sermon. They said to one another, “Now let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." (Luke 2:15-16)
So also we hurry to the stable and kneel beside the manger of our Savor. In worship. In family devotions. In our Bible reading. And we pray. Every day we pray.
"Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven to live with thee there."
Merry Christmas!
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
I was about 5. Every year, our families took turns hosting a Christmas party with a meal and the opening of Christmas presents. This year's celebration was at our house, Christmas Eve, after worship at church. Our Christmas tree was lit. We were getting ready to open presents. I saw packages--plural--with my name on them! All was right with the world! Until I looked out the living room window, and SANTA LOOKED BACK AT ME! He was right outside the window! His nose pressed against it, and he was looking me straight in the eye! I was sore afraid. So I hid under the card table that had been set up for present opening. My Uncle Elton crawled under the table with me. It took a while for my Uncle to talk me down from Santa Terror Mountain and out from under the table, but Elton and I emerged at last. I looked out the window. Santa was gone.
Years later I stumbled across the rubber Santa mask that my dad had worn that night. It was hidden away in the back corner of a closet. It had been a conspiracy! My dad, my Uncle, my mother, and others had been in cahoots that night! All because earlier, little Glenn had expressed doubts about Santa being real and coming at Christmas.
Let's go back even further. I 'm 3 or 4. I'm sitting next to my mother on the piano bench. She's playing Christmas carols. I'm listening closely. It's dark outside. There's ice on the window. It's snowing. We're waiting for my dad to get home. He's working overtime. My mom is playing Away in A Manger, to the tune of Cradle Song by William J. Kirkpatrick, 1895.
"Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh."
My mom pauses often as she plays the carol. She repeats phrases, so I will memorize them. She wants me to learn the music, too, so she shows me the fingering on the keyboard as she plays.
All these decades later, by the grace of God, I remember. I remember what Christmas is really all about! Not the masked Santa who appeared outside our living room window and caused me to flee for refuge under a card table. Rather, Christmas is all about the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger because there was no room for him in the inn.
"There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock 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. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” (Luke 2:8-14)
We know how the shepherds responded to that first Christmas sermon. They said to one another, “Now let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." (Luke 2:15-16)
So also we hurry to the stable and kneel beside the manger of our Savor. In worship. In family devotions. In our Bible reading. And we pray. Every day we pray.
"Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven to live with thee there."
Merry Christmas!
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
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