AtomHow Silently, How Silently…
“How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming; but, in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.” (O Little Town of Bethlehem, vs. 3)
I have flashbacks every year at this time. When I watch the little ones sharing their Christmas songs and Christmas verses…
I have flashbacks every year at this time. When I watch the little ones sharing their Christmas songs and Christmas verses and telling the story of the birth of Jesus with shepherds in bathrobes and angels with tin-foil wings, I am suddenly back in the first grade, standing up when it is my time to recite my part of the Christmas story…”And there were shepherds keep watch over their flocks by night…” And I am standing before the old white painted cupboards with the red trip in my parents’ kitchen, going over my verse one more time until my Dad is satisfied not only that I know it well, but that I am also speaking loudly and clearly enough for the “older people” to hear (that would be those over 50).
And I remember and I am thankful, for Sunday School teachers so dedicated and willing to teach me that precious story of Jesus’ birth, and for parents who brought me again and again to rehearsals and who between times drilled me and made sure that I was learning my verses and songs. I know it is because of their efforts cooperating with the Holy Spirit that I still celebrate the birth of the Christ child each year – not “Christmas” as in the winter Holiday that everyone, believer or no-believer celebrates with gifts and food, but Christmas as in the reverent celebration of the one born Savior of the world and savior of me. “How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given” – through the words of Holy Scripture and through the patient rehearsal of the story and the diligent support of parents who wanted me to know – “so God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.”
As I watched and listened to young voices singing and telling of Jesus’ birth and watched the joy-filled expressions of parents and grandparents watching their precious young ones, I saw the exchange of faith and the passing on of hope once again. But I also recognized it this time not as simply a one-way street, as in adults passing on the faith, but as give and give back, children passing the faith back to those they love – their parents and grandparents. “No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him still the dear Christ enters in.” I saw faith shared and faith growing as children shared Jesus with their parents.
Let me say also, that I experienced something of the same last night at the Detroit Lakes High School Madrigal dinner. What a rare treat that event is, where through classical music and historical reenactment of sixteenth century celebrations of Christ’s birth (and a lot of fun and good food), our High School young people can also sing and tell the story that is still changing the world (and potentially their lives even as they tell it) some five centuries later! I know that tickets are pricey and somewhat hard to come by, but what a blessing to drink in such wondrous music and celebration! Thanks be to God that such a message can still be shared in a community setting!
And thanks be to God for you – for all of you who share so much blessing with me and my family during this Holy Season. We are indeed thankful to be a part of the First Lutheran and Detroit Lakes Community!
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Wade
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