Saturday, December 22, 2018

And she brought forth.........





As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.

I mourn in my heart and grieve for Christmas, not that the Lord requires any mourning to preserve the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, but I mourn the beauty of the greatest story ever told, being obliterated to lighten the hearts of all people to give them hope, to touch them, to lift them from the dark world in one season of life.

I have been swept away in the misery of all the poverty, disappointment, and burying a mother, who TL remarked in going through cards and letters, that there was not one she saved from me.
I am though not alone, as more people are in lives which are unpleasant, than are pleasant now. I remember though a time with the German Lutherans who came to America, where Christmas was to them was being given an orange at Church. I am reminded of my dad telling me the story when he was a little boy with his brother, begging to go to Christmas Eve Service, for that orange, and how Grampa promised they would go if it warmed  up to 20 below that night. It did warm up, but dad always said, he did not know if it was from them running back and checking on it in blowing on it, or if it really did warm up.
I am certain Grampa probably was well aware of his boys actions and still went as for how hard of a man he was, there was always Christmas in that old German's pale blue eyes.

In my time, the Church present was a brown paper bag, with peanuts from I think the Civil War in dust clouds, an apple covered in dust and the most God awful candy. I was someone who would eat anything, but that candy was meant to keep children from eating candy. I remember these big swirly red things like a Christmas bow that you had to try and break to eat, these hard candies with some kind of jelly stuff inside which was not of this world, and then those spiced candies.....again not of this hemisphere. It must have been something the Germans tortured themselves with because no people in their right minds would look upon that stuff with favor.

It revealed though even in my poverty how affluent I was in not appreciating that brown bag as no one did and tossed it in the corner as it must have been the thought that counted, a thought probably when Charles Dickens  wrote A Christmas Carol.

I would give a great deal for that kind of misery again though in that little Church when everything changed the year my sister died.

It is Christmas though. Christmas that no Muslim, no Jew, no Catholic, no Hindu, no Atheist can bring in comfort and hope to the heart of the child in all of us. It is the wonderful Word recorded by St. Luke, which in simplicity is like no other message ever given to mankind.


 

Luke chapter 2

  1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.


Followed by the most uplifting all Christmas songs Inspired by the Holy Ghost for the uplifting of Christians in worship of the Savior to the world, Christ the Lord.





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