[Nfbk] The Simple Story of Christmas

[Joey Couch]

"The Simple Story of Christmas"

The first Christmas carol that many children learn invokes a tender scene:

“Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
The stars in the heavens looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.”

With words easy enough for a child to understand, this beloved carol
reminds us that the story of Christmas is both spectacular and simple.
It’s a story that continues to inspire the world and yet can be
understood and even retold by children. In fact, it may be that
children understand it best.

We who are older, more experienced and mature, may miss the essence of
these special days in our rush to go, to purchase, to consume, to
hurry. Listen to children, who even amid the excitement of the season
somehow know that Christmas has to be about more than gifts and
decorations. Watch the sparkle in their eyes as they reenact the
Nativity, sing the songs, and share the stories of this sacred season.

Many years ago, at this same time of year, excited children went to an
assisted-living home for seniors, many of whom sat alone, waiting for
a visitor. The children’s performance of the Nativity was far from
perfect—cues were missed, lyrics and lines forgotten, and some of the
costumes didn’t fit very well. But from the story they told, the
scriptures they recited, the songs they sang came a special feeling
that touched their hearts as much as it touched the hearts of their
audience. For a moment, young and old were united in a simple story
that filled the room with joy and love and rejoicing.

Today, at this sacred season, take time away from the hustle and
bustle to really ponder and feel the simple story of Christmas.





-- 
Joey Couch
phone 606-216-8033.
email ki4vjd at gmail.com
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