The Light of Christmas by King Duncan Welcome on this holiest of nights. I want to begin with a story about a young man named Marty. Marty was a bright, lively eight-year-old who suffered from a minor disability he was deaf in one ear. He lived in a rural community of farms and fences. Marty’s mom, Diane, was proud of her son. She knew he had a kind and loving heart. Several weeks before Christmas one year, Marty shared a secret with his mother. He had been doing extra chores and saving up his allowance in order to buy a Christmas present, a pocket compass, for his best friend, Kenny. Kenny was being raised by a single mom and life for their family was a daily struggle just to acquire the most basic of needs of food and clothing. Diane knew that Kenny’s mom was a very proud woman. Diane doubted that Kenny’s mom would allow Kenny to accept a gift if he couldn’t give one in return. Marty argued with his mother and finally said, “But what if it was a secret? What if they never found out who gave it?” Diane finally relented. If somehow Marty could give Kenny the gift without anyone knowing who gave it, that would be acceptable. So, on Christmas Eve Diane watched her son walk out the door, cross the wet pasture and slip beneath the electric fence on his mission of kindness. Marty raced up to Kenny’s door and pressed the doorbell. Then he ran down the steps and across the yard so he would not be seen. Suddenly, the electric fence loomed in front of him. He could not avoid it. The shock knocked him to the ground and he gasped for breath. Slowly, he got up and stumbled home. When he arrived home Diane treated the blister on Marty’s face cause by the electric fence, then put him to bed. That night as Diane tucked Marty in, she silently complained to God for allowing her son to be hurt when he was performing a good deed. The next day, however, Kenny came to the front door excitedly talking about his new compass. Amazingly, Marty who, you’ll remember, was deaf in one ear seemed to hear Kenny talking with both of his ears. A few weeks later, a school nurse confirmed what Diane suspected: Marty’s hearing in his deaf ear had been completely restored. Though doctors said it might have been the shock from the electric fence, Diane believed it was a Christmas miracle. (1) Christmas is a night for miracles. It is a magical night of wonder and faith. The children are excited. Moms and Dads are excited, too, as they remember the joy and anticipation they felt as youngsters as Christmas approached, and they see that same joy in the eyes of their children. How good it is to hear the prophetic words of Isaiah, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned . . . For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” It is the darkest part of the night that we are most prone to see the light of God. When the world needed him most, Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea. But it is also true in our lives, when we need the light of God the most, is when we are most likely to see that light. James W. Moore tells a wonderful story about a man who was experiencing darkness in his life. The man had suffered from a stroke which affected both his legs, one arm, and most of his speech. He was frustrated because he was unable to communicate with other people, especially his wife. His life was filled with loneliness and some anger. One day his pastor came to visit him. The pastor found it difficult to communicate with the man for very long. The pastor was tempted to ignore the man and talk to his wife, or to ask him simple questions, much as people do when talking to a baby. As the pastor was getting ready to leave he remembered reading that some stroke victims can sing, even though they cannot talk. The pastor began singing, “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.” It seemed like a miracle, but the man who suffered the stroke, the man who had such difficulty communicating with anyone, also began singing. There was no stuttering, no breakdown in forming words. He just sang: “Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant, so tender and mild.” As the man reached for his pastor’s hand to hold, his wife joined in the singing, “Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.” “We finished,” the pastor said. The man smiled, and “God was there.” If that seems like a miracle, remember that Christmas is a time for miracles. A light shines in the darkness. The glory of the Lord shone around Shepherds on a bleak Judean hillside. A babe is born in a manger in Bethlehem. Rejoice, your light has come. Jesus, the Christ is born!
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 23:56:35 +0000
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