A Good Story for the Day!!

Due to weather and the fact we couldn't get into the church driveway because of foot high drifts, and 40-50 mph winds, (our church is on one of highest hills in the city and the winds are stronger) church was called off today. Our pastor emailed a true story I would like to share with everyone.

This story was Back 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 prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments, and a large orphanage. It was nearing the Christmas season, so for the first time in their lives these Russian orphan children heard the Christmas story. They were told about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem and finding no room in the inn, so they stayed in the animals’ quarters, where Jesus was born and placed in the manger, an animal feeding trough.

They were told how, later, the baby Jesus was visited by wise men from the east as they worshipped Jesus with fine gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Throughout the story, the children, according to one of the Americans, “sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.” As a follow-up activity to the story, each child was given three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was also given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins, which the children tore into strips the paper and carefully laid them in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel from a thrown away nightgown were used for the baby’s blanket. From pieces of tan felt, a doll-like baby was made.

As the American teachers made their way around the room to observe the children one of them noted, “All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. This little boy 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. The translator then related how Misha very accurately recalled the story that had been told until he came to the part where Mary put Jesus in the manger. Then the little orphaned boy, Misha, started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story and here’s what he said: “And when Mary laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him, ‘I have no momma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay.’ Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept 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 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 or abuse him, someone who would stay with him – FOR ALWAYS!

Hope your week of Christmas is filled with anticipation, family and especially the hope of Christ!!

Love to all!!
Ron, Sandy, Katrina & Logan