.....As Merilee left the house she searched store after store looking for gifts that she thought would be suitable for the myraid of people she felt she needed to give gifts to. Nothing seemed to suit. Frazzled and worn, she headed down main street to yet another store. As she passed by a church, she paused as she heard music. The sound brought a shadow of comfort to her heart, but as the music ceased, with it went that fleeting feeling of peace that had seemed to soothe Merilee's heart.
Finally, tired of her fruitless search, and fighting the hustle and bustle of the holiday crowd, Merilee headed home. Merilee reached home in deep thought. She sank down into a chair, kicked off her shoes and leaned her head back with a tired sigh. Her mind traveled back to those Christmas memories of long ago. She never remembered her mother being this worn out at Christmas. In fact, as she recalled, her mother was always humming or singing as she cleaned and baked. How she wished her Mom was still here to give her advice. Losing her parents when she was eight years old didn't leave her with that many memories. The memories she did have of her parents were happy ones, though.
Merilee hated thinking about the dark days after the death of her parents. Of course, when she moved in with Uncle Ike and Aunt Ida she found herself showered with things--things she had never had. Luxury that she now took for granted. There had to be more to life then always buying new things and hoping it all would bring joy into her heart--it just wasn't working. A longing for the joyful mother she held close to her heart from the long ago past brought tears to Merilee's eyes.
Suddenly she remembered the phone call she had received that morning from Julianna. There had been a sound of joy in Julianna's voice as she had talked about the Christmas season.
Julianna had invited her to a meeting at her home this evening. Maybe she'd go after all. Julianna said it was to be a reminder to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Yes, Merilee decided. She would go. Maybe it would help her to get her focus off of herself. The kids would be late coming home from school. She would just fix a casserole and John could see that they all ate when they came in.
As Merilee left the house that evening, she felt a spark of expectation and hope that was unusual for her. The hope seemed to blossom as Julianna welcomed her with open arms. Her home was warm and welcoming. Wonderful smells of baking enveleoped Merilee as she entered the door. Each of the ladies present were introduced and Merilee felt the joy that seemed to surround each one. A longing for that same peace she saw on these faces came over her. For some reason these ladies reminded her of her mother.
As Julianna began the meeting, she talked of the real reason for Christmas. From the deep recesses of her mind Merilee recognized it as the story that her mother told her on Christmas Eve. About Jesus coming to earth as a baby to be born in a manger. Shepherds had come to worship Him. It all came rushing back as Julianna told the Christmas story that never grows old. Merilee's heart welcomed the words as she heard how Jesus in His love went all the way---from the cradle to the cross; from Bethlehem to Calvary. She learned how Jesus had paid it all that she too, might have the joy of knowing that this One who had come as a fragile baby was the Mighty God. He could lift her from the self seeking life she had been living, to a life of giving and living in the presence of God.
How could she have gotten so far away from the teachings of her mother? She longed to know Jesus as she had as a child. Merilee realized that, things had taken the place of God in her life. She wanted that to change. As Julianna prayed at the end of the meeting, Merilee, with a heart of sorrow, called upon the Father of Love, asking forgiveness for those many wasted years of living for self and forgiveness for those sins that filled her life. She asked for a chance to begin life anew and that this Christmas season she could show her family what the true meaning of Christmas was all about.
As Merilee bid Julianna good-by she thanked her over and over again for inviting her. Merilee asked where they went to church. To her surprise, it was the church she had heard music at, earlier that day.
An invitation was given to come to the Sunday services. Merilee accepted with joyfulness.
Walking down the street to her home, Merilee marveled anew as she thought once again of the Mighty God coming as a fragile baby to show His love to the human race.
Merilee opened the door to her home and chaos seemed to jump out and envelop her. Merilee paused and then with a prayer in her heart, she entered the house determined to make a difference, determined to show her family what Christmas was really all about.
Merilee found pajamas, checked homework, cleaned up the kitchen and tucked her children into bed, all with a song on her lips.
The kids looked at her strangely at first. Merilee couldn't blame them. John too, seemed to notice the difference, but said nothing.
The next day brought the usual commotion of another school day. The kids were in high spirits--A christmas party today and then vacation. After the kids were gone, Merilee quickly cleaned up the breakfast mess. Much was done that day as returned the many items she had bought just two short days ago. Things she thought she had to have to gain happiness. After the returns were made and thoughtful gifts purchased for the relatives, Merilee reached home.
The first thing she did was climb the steep stairs to the attic. Up here, tucked far back under the eaves was a drab wooden box that was filled with her mothers things. Amidst the glitter of the new things given to her as a young girl the box had been set aside and finally relegated to the attic. It had moved with her when she married, but was never opened. Once again the box had been shoved into the attic to be forgotten.
As Merilee knelt in front of the box, she wondered why today of all days she had remembered this box and felt like she just had to open it. Loved things of long ago met her eyes as one by one things were taken from the box. Here was her teddy bear, a small thimble, mother's good china and then Merilee gasped with delight as she unwrapped with trembling fingers the figures of the manger scene. They were all here. The shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the wisemen, the angel, and even the sheep and the donkey. With loving hands Merilee gathered up the figurines and carried them to the living room. This manger scene would have the place of honor. Tonight she would tell her family all about it.
As the kids entered the door the makings of an argument could be heard.
"Why did you have to tell the teacher about that, Brianna? You knew I'd get into trouble didn't you? You did it on purpose!"
"Well you shouldn't have done it. It's against the school rules."
"Hi, girls! How was the party?"
"It stunk! I didn't get to sing. All because of her."
"What do you mean you didn't get to sing? What's this all about?"
"Oh nothing! I'm just really mad at Brianna!"
"Girls, I want you to come into the living room for a minute. I want to tell you about something.
Merilee led Brooke and Brianna to the manger scene. She simply told the Christmas story of how Jesus, the Son of God came to this earth to show His love for each of them and how He could take away strife and sin and bring love, joy and peace.
Brooke and Brianna listened to their Mother in astonishment--never had they heard their mother talk like this. For some reason this story seemed to grip them as nothing had ever done. There in the living room, Merilee was able to bring the first of her family to the manger--to the Mighty God that had inhabited the manger and who now wants to live in the hearts of men, women, girls and boys. Argument forgotten, the girls left the room with much to think about.
Thoughtfully, Merilee entered the kitchen. She intended to make a batch of cookies. She reached for the bag lying on the table. As she opened it, out tumbled cookie cutters of many different shapes.
As the dough was mixed and lay ready to cut out Beth and Dustin tumbled into the kitchen singing their version of Jingle Bells at the top of their lungs.
They stopped short as they saw the cookie dough lying on the counter.
"Hey, Mom what are you doing? Can we help?
"Please, Mom, pleaded Beth, I want to make cookies too."
So once again Merilee was able to tell the Christmas story as her six and seven year old cut out shapes of sheep and donkey, Mary and Joseph, a manger and a star. Dustin and Beth listened with eyes wide, to the story of the babe of Christmas. They learned that the babe was no longer a babe, but is reigning in heaven with arms open wide for little ones to come to Him. Warm cookies and milk were enjoyed as Merilee taught them the age old Christmas song of "Away in a manger."
Opportunity came once again to Merilee as Greg and Luke were showing her their completed Lego project of a barn. With heart overflowing with joy, Merilee led her boys to the Christ of the manger who was born in a stable.
John was later than usual that night. Merilee wondered what had kept him. She tried not to worry, as she prepared supper for the kids, went out and built a snowman with them, fixed hot chocolate and sang Christmas carols around the tree.
The children were all tucked in bed when Merilee heard the door open. John came in looking full of despair.
As they sat at the table, with John eating the food she had prepared, Merilee listened, with sinking heart, as John told her he had been laid off. How would they make it. Then the presence of God that had been with her all day, once again reminded her that God could make a difference in this situation, too.
"John, you know I went over to Julianna's last night. I found out that Christmas can be more than stress, and always rushing about buying expensive presents..."
"You're talking about buying presents again, when I just told you I got laid off. There won't be anymore present shopping or money for anything else, either. I can't believe you're talking about presents at a time like this!"
"John, I was trying to tell you that Christmas is more than presents."
"Well, it sure will have to be this year, but I don't know how you are going to handle that!"
"All I want for Christmas is the presence of God in our family.
"God! What does He have to with it? Merilee, I think you need to get some sleep."
As John left the room in disgust, Merilee heard him muttering, "God! I can't believe she's talking about God." Merilee sat at the table, with bowed head, begging God for the grace, wisdom and help to lead her husband to the Christ of Christmas--the God of all Help.
The next morning, John left the house at his usual time, determined to find a job. The children slept in and Merilee found herself talking with God about her situation. During that quiet hour an idea sprang to life. When the patter of feet was heard overhead Merilee rose and called a cheery good morning as she prepared breakfast. After the meal was finished, Merilee called the children into the living room. She began sharing with them of John's job loss, they all fell silent as they were struck with the enormity of the situation. Then Beth ventured, "You mean we won't get any presents!?!" Merilee smiled gently, as she pulled Beth close. "Well, you won't be getting very many. But let me tell you about a different kind of Presence that I want for Christmas. I want the Presence of God. That means a knowing that God is in our hearts, that He has taken away our sin and surrounds us with His love. Present is spelled, p-r-e-s-e-n-t, which is gift we give to another. Presence is spelled, p-r-e-s-e-n-c-e, which is that knowing that God is our Father and that He is with us always.
As the children listened to their mother, they began to nod in agreement, as they too realized the importance of having God's presence in their life. With joy, Merilee then shared with them here idea. "We need to show Daddy how much we love him. Remember the Christmas story I told you about yesterday. Well, Daddy doesn't know the real reason for Christmas, so we are going to show him.
"Show him? What do you mean?" asked Luke.
"Today we are going to practice acting out the Christmas story. After supper, we will tell Daddy we have a surprise for him." said Merilee.
That day was filled with fun and laughter as costumes were gathered and preparations were made for the evenings' surprise for Dad.
John came home just in time for supper, more discouraged than ever. No job, no hope of a job, and no money. What were they to do. John tried to join in the laughter and fun of the family time around the supper table, but he was too overwhelmed. He glanced down the table at Merilee and was struck anew by her beauty. Her face was alight with a peace and joy he had never seen before.
After supper, Beth and Dustin grabbed his hand and said, "Daddy, come in by the tree. We have a surprise for you." With the little ones, laughingly tugging on his arms, John followed them into the living room and sat down in the recliner. He snuggled Beth a moment when she climbed up on his lap. Then in a flash she was down and disappeared upstairs. As the tromp of feet quieted overhead, soft strains of Christmas carols filled the room, the tree lights twinkled, and John closed his eyes.
He was startled awake when he felt a touch on his shoulder. He shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts, as his eyes focused on the scene in front of him. The room had been turned into a stable with the scent of hay, a manger and even a sheep, which happened to be their dog wearing a costume. He slowly took in each individual, A young girl, enveloped in a soft blue robe, sat close to the manger. A man, stood behind her..No, it was Greg with a beard and brown robe, a staff in hand. His eyes, moved to the shepherd, and the three wisemen bearing gifts. Royal robes and rough homespun. What incongruity! The soft voice of his wife captured his attention, as she began to read, "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed...... John listened to every word. His heart was stirred as never before. He felt surrounded with hope as the next words fell upon his ears. "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." Tears filled John's eyes as he realized that it was the Son of God who had came to the manger, as the Saviour of the world. As Merilee's voiced ceased a song rose from the figures at the stable.
"Into my heart, into my heart, into my heart, Lord Jesus.
Come in today. Come in to stay.
Come into my heart Lord Jesus."
John's heart was moved as never before. He rose from the recliner, and held out his hand to Merilee, then together they knelt in front of the manger with the rest of the family. There in their own home John asked the Christ of Christmnas to come into his heart and life.
As they finished praying, Beth clapped her hands and jumped up and down saying, "Daddy, we won't need presents this year. God gave us His presence.
Your Presence for Christmas
In the busy Christmas noise, of the lights, the bells, the toys, I have found You are the only source of comfort and joy.
Lord, I want your presence for Christmas. I want your presence for Christmas. I long to feel your Spirit speaking peace to my heart. Of all the gifts I may receive there's only one I really need, and it's your presence, your presence for Christmas.
When the holiday is through and the year is fresh and new. What will linger are the moments spent, my Lord, worshing you.
Lord, I want you presence for Christmas. I want your presence for Christmas. I long to feel your Spirit speaking peace to my heart. Of all the gifts I may receive there's only one I really need, and it's your presence, your presence for Christmas.
