The Citizen, 2006-12-21, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2006.
Blyth Christian
Reformed Church
All Are Welcome
December 24 - 10 a.m.
Luke 2:8-20
"Gift Giving"
Cantata
December 25 - 10:00 a.m.
"No more loneliness"
Text: Isaiah 7:14
7:30 p.m. - Sunday School Christmas Program
Everyone Welcome - Babysitting provided
Pastor John Kuperus
Two Babies in a Manger
T
In 1994, two Americans
answered an invitation from
the Russian Department of
Education to teach morals
and ethics (based on biblical
principles) in the public
schools.
They were invited to teach at a
large orphanage: About 100
boys and girls who had been
abandoned, abused, and left
in the care of a government-
run program were in the
orphanage.
They related the following
story in their own words.
It was nearing the holiday
season, 1994, time for our
orphans to hear for the first
time, the traditional story of
Christmas. We told them
about Mary and Joseph
arriving at Bethlehem. Finding
no room at the inn, the couple
went to the stable, where the
baby Jesus was born and
placed in a manger.
Throughout the story, the
children and orphanage staff
sat in amazement as they
listened. Some sat on the
edges of their stools, trying to
grasp every word.
Completing the story, we gave
the children three small
pieces of cardboard to make a
crude manger. Each child
was given a small paper
square, cut from yellow
napkins I had brought with
me. No coloured paper was
available in the city.
Following instructions, the
children tore the paper and
carefully laid strips in the
manger for straw. Small
squares of flannel, cut
from a worn-out
nightgown an
American lady
was throwing
away as she
left Russia,
were used
for the
baby's
blanket. A
doll-like
baby was
cut from the
tan felt we
had brought
from the
United States.
The orphans
were busy
assembling their
manger as I walked among
them to see if they needed
any help.
All went well until I got to one
table where little Misha sat.
He looked to be about 6 years
old and had finished his
project. As I looked at the
little boy's manger, I was
startled to see not one, but
two babies in the manger.
Quickly, I called for the
translator to ask the lad why
there were two babies in the
manger. Crossing his arms in
front of him and looking at
this completed manger scene,
the child began to repeat the
story very seriously.
For such a young boy, who
had only heard the
Christmas story once,
he related the
happenings
accurately...until
he came to the
part where
Mary put the
baby Jesus
in the
manger.
Then Misha
started to
ad-lib. He
made up his
own story as
he said, "And
when Mary laid
the baby in the
manger, Jesus
looked up at me and
asked me if I had a place to
stay. Then Jesus told me I
could stay with him. But I told
him I couldn't because I have
no gift to give him like
everyone else did. But I
wanted to stay with Jesus
so much, so I thought about
what I had that maybe I
could use fora gift. I thought
maybe if I could keep him
warm, that would be
a good gift. So I
asked Jesus, "If I
keep you warm,
will that be a good enough
gift?" And Jesus told me, "If
you keep me warm, that will
be the best gift anybody ever
gave me." "So I got into the
manger, and then Jesus
looked at me and he told me I
could stay with him...for
always."
As little Misha finished his
story, his eyes brimmed full of
tears that they splashed down
his little cheeks. Putting his
hand over his face, his head
dropped to the table and his
shoulders shook as he
sobbed and sobbed. The little
orphan had found someone
who would never abandon
him nor abuse him, someone
who would stay with
him...FOR ALWAYS.
I've learned that it's not what
you have in your life, but who
you have in your life that
counts.
Author of this true story:
unknown
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.