O Holy Night
2002 Advent Devotion Collection
December 8
READING: Psalm 21
The sun will not hurt you by
day,
nor the moon by night. Psalm 21.6
HOLY NIGHT-CHRIST CHILD-WISE MEN-GIFTS-SANTA.
Are these connected? To me they are and I would like to tell you why I
think so.
I was blessed by God in having parents
and both sets of grandparents who were all members of the Christian Church.
As a small boy I was brought up in Harristown, Illinois. My first Sunday
School teacher was so wonderful and taught me (and our class) so much
about the Bible. She had a small box filled with white sand and things
to go with it, like small biblical people, animals, twigs with leaves
to use as trees, blades of grass to use as reeds, and a mirror to put
in the bottom of the box. We would cover this mirror with sand, then uncover
a round spot for a lake or uncover a zig-zag portion for a river. She
would show us how the Red Sea parted, how Moses was put in a basket and
placed among the reeds, and of course the manger scene complete with baby
Jesus, Joseph and Mary, the Wise Men and their gifts, and all the animals
collected around. That was my early, and indelible, learning of different
parts of the Bible.
I often thought about the Wise Men
bringing those gifts to the Christ Child then, and about Santa bringing
gifts to children on the same night of the year now. I usually spent that
night with my Harristown grandparents since Santa always came to their
house that night and left my gifts on a certain chair in the dining room.
One of those nights I hadn't gone to sleep yet when I heard someone in
the dining room and the rustle of packages. I didn't get up to see, but
early the next morning I rushed into that room and, sure enough, there
were my presents on that chair. I didn't see him, but I HEARD SANTA.
HOLY NIGHT-CHRIST CHILD-WISE MEN-GIFTS-SANTA. Isn't there a connection between the Wise Men bringing gifts to the baby Jesus, and Santa bringing gifts to youngsters on the same night of the year, today? I believe there is.
Thought for the day: Live according to the Bible and you'll never be afraid of libel.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, while material gifts are nice to give and receive, I believe gifts we receive from you are much more important. Gifts of life, gifts of family and friends, gifts of health and happiness. Gifts of freedom for individuals and for a nation. I thank you Father, for each one of these gifts you have given me. Amen. -- Sid R.
Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
(217) 428-4336