This Christmas Night by Billy & Ruth Graham, published by Thomas Nelson, Inc. is a selection of thoughts about the blessed time of year. A sample of a selection is entitled Christmas is God’s Reminder and is found on pages 116-117.

“I am reminded of a story about the day that Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky. A neighbor hailed a man from town and asked, “Any news down at the village, Ezra?”

“Well, Squire McLean’s gone to Washington to see Madison sworn in, and old Spellman tells me that this Bonaparte fellow has captured most of Spain. What’s new ouT here, neighbor?”

“Nothing at all, nothing at all, except a new baby down at Tom Lincoln’s house. Nothing ever happens out here.”

The birth of Abraham Lincoln, but it was not considered important! And the birth of Jesus Christ, but to many millions, the true meaning of Christmas is still unimportant. Christmas is a reminder from God Himself that we are not alone. Jesus Christ is here. He is here to give us hope, to forgive our sins, to give us a new song, to impart faith, and to heal our spiritual wounds if only we will let Him.

William A. McDowell in Guideposts, December 1991 tells us How To: Keep Christmas Wherever You Are. He has four key points. 1. Keep your perspective. 2. Keep traditions. 3. Keep in touch with your memories. 4. Keep Christmas by giving.

This personal story from my early teaching experience illustrates two of these points. A student’s mother came to my classroom and asked if I would like to share the story behind Silent Night with the first graders in her daughter’s class. I told her I would, so the next day Melissa Mohr came with the well preserved hand written story of how the Christmas carol came to be written by her great-great-great-grandfather, Joseph Mohr. Now when I think of Silent Night I envision a hand written legacy handed down from generation to generation. Traditions are a tie that binds the past to the present.

According to historians, the Christmas tree came to America about 1840. The honor of having set up the first one in our country seems to belong to Mr. August Imgart who brought the idea from his former home in Germany to Wooster, Ohio. He placed a spruce tree, decorated with colored papers and lighted candles, in his home. One of the stanzas of “O Tannenbaum” expresses one of the spiritual truths symbolized by the Christmas tree. O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how sturdy God hath made thee! Thou bidst us all place faithfully our trust in God unchangingly: O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how sturdy God had made thee!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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