Three Tales of Freedom And Faith Both Ancient and Modern. I. In ancient times,168- B.C. brought folks some troubles, When Emperor Antiochus, sent his soldiers on the double, To seize the Jewish temple, and to make their faith a crime, that would be punished by death if any chose to cross that line. He ordered Jews to follow gods like Zeus which they can’t do and demanded they eat pig flesh and bow down to idols too That’s when Jewish resistance started near Jerusalem, Many rebels called the Maccabees would soon retake their lands After many vicious battles that they won due to God’s Plan, then when they retook their temple which the Greeks had all defiled they wanted to re-purify it, with ritual oils for a while, but they only had enough oil to burn for just one day, still they said their prayers and lit that big menorah anyway and that oil burned for eight long days, quite a miracle they say. And so the holiday that they call Chanukah quite soon became A time for Jews to relive miracles with each lit candle flame, And celebrate the freedom that their ancestors re-claimed. II. Plymouth didn’t “Rock” none of those Pilgrims danced when they reached shore, it was freezing wet and snowy. they were all tired and sore, from their long Mayflower trip but flowering is what they did, growing hope for folks each seeking faith their country had forbid, They first kept the Sabbath holy on a Island now called Clark, then they sounded out the harbor, joined together to embark, through a winter storm so rough it tore their rudder all apart huddled in a tiny shallop that I’m calling “Freedom’s Ark.” Then their mast broke in 3 places and the men all had to row, For hours to the only safe place they had left to go but God steadied their small boat as each mighty wave besieged ‘em they thanked him oh, so kindly when that storm at long last beached them That first Thanksgiving, it was mostly a humble affair, With only 53 hungry pilgrims who were gathered there, there were 4 married women who had 13 young tots plus 22 men who helped fill up the pots 9 adolescent boys and 5 adolescent girls, giving Thanks for the harvests from their brand new world. Ninety Indians also came to share their feast, that lasted three days before it was complete. And yes, they had turkey, they had turkeys galore, Just like we all cook yearly fresh or frozen from the store, But I’m sure those turkeys had no thanks, when pilgrims breached their shores. III. That 1st Christmas was humbler than that 1st Thanksgiving feast one man, led his chosen woman who rode on a weary beast, carrying Earth’s most precious burden but the donkey had no clue, all it hoped for was some fresh grain when the long journey was through, so it plodded over desert sands to Bethlehem, where the census being taken would quite soon be adding them, but the hotels all were booked, and they had no Motel 6. They were exhausted from their journey and were left in quite a fix, but they stumbled cross a stable down a long, dark alleyway where the cattle would be lowing soft until the break of day, and they found an empty manger that the camels had licked clean a perfect place to lay the baby for his first of earthbound dreams Mary was in heavy labor, so Joseph filled it up with hay, And I doubt if they both noticed the bright star that marked that place, as the baby’s head was crowning and God joined the human race. But there was a baby shower in that humblest abode, When 3 kings found out God’s son was born, on camel’s backs they rode,. bearing gifts to bless the Magi, Gold, plus frankincense and myrrh and that stable smelled much better filled with frankincense, I’m sure, And that Myrrh perfume so pure.. But when King Herod heard rumors that a newborn king had come, He massacred each first born son, around poor Bethlehem. But Joseph, Mary and God’s son, escaped King Herod’s wrath, which was the greatest happy ending and it’s led us down a path, to traditions where we all give thanks on November twenty-third, by pigging out beyond belief, on a somewhat, chubby bird plus all the trimming and desert, a feast that’s quite absurd…. And then we gather with our friends and kin, December Twenty-fifth, sharing presents with each other, symbolizing God’s great gift. So be sure to share this set of tales, your kids will love them too, I’ll bet As I close with my most favorite quote on Christmas, I’ve heard yet, “You know, it’s tough being born on Christmas Day, because most folks tend to forget.” Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday! Art~Whimsically Yours Studio Matthew F. Blowers III-©-2014
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 06:47:50 +0000
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