As I read the news about the great Winter Blast that is reaching from coast to coast, I\’m reminded of so many fond memories of being snowed in with loved ones. At first it seemed an inconvenience, but once we accepted the inevitable, the new memories began. Of course, I can remember the one Christmas season when my sister and I were determined to shop anyhow; we were about the only ones in the mall – and we had fun! All of those memories are part of Christmas for me, and I thank God for them.
Christmas here in Niger is very different than our memories. Instead of snow, we have sand and more sand. However, times spent with friends are still very special. Last week a group of us went camping in a wild life park where there were no fences to keep the animals in, and no fences to keep them away from us. One of the ladies with us had prayed that the Lord would delight her with his creation and let her see an elephant. We had only been in the park for about an hour when four elephants came wandering down to the waterhole where we were eating lunch. They were very close and very large! What an awesome new and very different memory!
This past Sunday, many of us around the world celebrated Jesus\’ birth in programs and pageants whose content has not changed in over 2000 years. Here in Niamey, we shared from the memories of the shepherds, the first to be blessed with this wondrous news. Even though I wasn\’t there, I can almost imagine their \’thrill of hope’, and I can empathize with them as they fell to their knees before the newborn babe. Over and over down through history, these shepherds have shared this wondrous story with us. As we participated in \”Carols by Candlelight\” under the stars, we were blessed by a live nativity including the animals which often annoy us as they compete with our vehicles on the roads. Not this time: their bleating and darting to and fro blessed us and reminded us of how incredible it was that the LORD God who created us all left His throne and became one of us. Truly, the \’hopes and fears of all the years\’ were met in Him that night. Those who were here who do not personally know this life-changing story certainly went away with ‘memories’ that we pray will return to them over and over until they also fall to their knees before the Christ-child. On Christmas eve, we’ll share again the story of that first Christmas morn through video presentation at a local church.
Even as we are in the midst of creating new memories, Bob and I want to take this chance to once again thank you for the many ways in which you\’ve blessed us this past year. We also want to wish you a very, very Merry Christmas, and pray that you will find it a time full of hope and rejoicing.
The Shepherds’ Night Before Christmas
T’was the night before Christmas and all through my sheep
Not a creature was stirring, for they were asleep.
The flock had no worries, not even a care.
They knew their good shepherd would always be there.
My children were all nestled snug in their beds
With visions of sheep jumping over their heads
Mamma and I had just settled down;
But I, the good shepherd, was watching around
When up in the sky there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
The sky was a blaze with a heavenly glow
Giving the luster of mid-day to objects below.
Then what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a sky full of angles approaching me near.
More rapid than eagles their courses they came
One of them shouted and called out my name.
He told of a baby in Bethlehem born
The long waited Christ, clothes tattered and torn.
Then all of the angels broke out into praise.
They sang and they shouted and called out this phrase:
“Glory to God way up in the sky;
Peace on earth, and blessing are nigh.”
I heard them exclaim as they flew out of sight,
“Go see for yourself this blessing tonight.
To the village you go, to the barn by the wall.
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all.”
So off to the village, in search of the boy,
With wonder and awe and hearts full of joy.
We came to a stable right next to the town
With donkeys and cattle all standing around.
As I drew in my head and was turning around
A baby was there, not making a sound.
He was just as the angels had told us that night;
I knew in a moment that this was the site.
He was dressed all in rags from his head to his toes
He lay in the hay, his face all aglow.
His eyes-how they twinkled, his dimples how merry!
I thought to myself, “It’s my sins He’ll carry.”
He was chubby and plump, this tiny small one.
I cried when I saw him, for this was God’s Son.
And giving a nod, I knew just what to do;
We went into town telling all what we knew.
They heard us exclaim as we strode out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
Adapted by Bob Gillespie