A Quiet Knowing Christmas

RUTH BELL GRAHAM

A QUIET KNOWING

CHRISTMAS

A Joyful Celebrations of the Season

Copyright @ 2002 Ruth Bell Graham

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotation in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published by W Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

P. O. Box 141000, Nashville, Tennessee 37214.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from

The King James Version of the Bible.

Other Scripture references are from the following sources:

The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Coyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

The New King James (NKJV). Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Graham, Ruth Bell.

   A quiet knowing Christmas / by Ruth Bell Graham.

      p. cm.

   ISBN 0-8499-1762-X (hardcover)

   1. Christmas. I. Title.

   GT4985 .G714 2002

   263'.915—dc21

2002012897

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: An Introduction

CHAPTER ONE: A GLORY BEHELD

Luke 2:1, 3–19

Matthew 2:1–12

Those Were No Ordinary Sheep

Christmas Is Always

One Wintry Night

Angelic Cream Twists

The Shepherd’s Dog

Bethlehem Was Never As Miserable As This

Thread Angel

CHAPTER TWO: BRING A TORCH, JEANETTE, ISABELLA

Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

The Santons of Provence

Christmas in Provence

A Southern Yule Log

CHAPTER THREE: DOWN IN YON FOREST

Down in Yon Forest

Why the Chimes Rang

Traditional Bell

Links in the Chain of Memory

Flaming Plum Pudding

Illustrated London News

The Birds’ Christmas Carol

CHAPTER FOUR: THE SUSSEX CAROL

Sussex Carol

Day Before Christmas

The True Story of Santy Claus

Is There a Santa Claus?

CHAPTER FIVE: LO, HOW A ROSE E’ER BLOOMING

Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

The Story of Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

The Christmas Rose

Christmas Eve

Christmas in Plains: Memories

Treasures of the Snow

Tissue Paper Roses

German Coffee Cake

CHAPTER SIX: CHRIST CHILD LULLABY

Christ Child Lullaby

The Manger Was Empty

Holiday Presents

This, Too, I Shall Give

Cranberry Scones

Christmas Hearts

CHAPTER SEVEN: AWAY IN A MANGER

Away in a Manger

The Story of Away in a Manger

A Christmas Crime

Bright Star Shining

Christmas Kitchen Fifty Years Ago

The Famous Turkey Dressing

Decorations from the Kitchen

CHAPTER EIGHT: OH, TANNENBAUM

Oh, Tannenbaum

Martin Luther and the First Christmas Tree

A Christmas Tree

My First Christmas Tree

Popcorn-and-Cranberry Garland

The Peterkins’ Christmas Tree

Our Christmas Tree

Wish Cookies

CHAPTER NINE: SILENT NIGHT

Silent Night

The Story of Silent Night

Christmas Carol

Trouble at the Inn

Prayer

A Sheaf of Oats

Sweet Soup

Sotsuppe

CHAPTER TEN: WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

What Child Is This?

The Story of What Child Is This?

What is the Christmas Spirit?

The First Christmas Crib

If You’re Missing Baby Jesus, Call 7162

Manger Haystacks

Dove of Peace

CHAPTER ELEVEN: O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

The Story of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

There’s No Such Thing As a Poor Christmas

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD: A Conclusion

The Tree

There Will Be Less Someday

Immanuel

Snow

Bibliography

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES:

An Introduction

When you think of Christmas, what first comes to mind? A beautifully decorated tree, tasty foods, brightly wrapped gifts, music, candles, family gatherings, shopping, filling stockings, perhaps sitting on Santa’s knee, the manger?

For me, at my age, it is mostly memories of all the above. Happy, fun-filled memories. Some of my memories include the reading of Christmas stories. Reading has played a major role in my life from the time I was a small girl living in China. Each evening, we all gathered in the living room, and while the women did hand work, the men took turns reading out loud to us. One of my most cherished Christmas memories is listening to Daddy read Why the Chimes Rang.

Christmas is a special time of year, but so much of its specialness is lost in the hustle and bustle of the seasons. I put this book together to encourage families to spend time together reading, preparing a tasty Christmas treat, or perhaps making a Christmas craft. As we began to select the stories that would be included, I wanted some of my old favorites, but I began to discover stories that are destined to become new favorites. I trust that you and your family will enjoy them as much we do.

Have a very Merry Christmas

—RUTH BELL GRAHAM

LITTLE PINEY COVE, NORTH CAROLINA

SUMMER 2002

CHAPTER ONE

A Glory Beheld

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. . . . And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, 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 a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

— LUKE 2:1, 3–19

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

—MATTHEW 2 : 1 – 1 2

THOSE WERE NO ORDINARY SHEEP

Years ago, I read the following in The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah by Alfred Edersheim:

Jewish tradition may here prove both illustrative and helpful. That the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem was a settled conviction. Equally so was the belief, that He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder, the tower of the flock. This Migdal Eder was not the watch-tower for the ordinary flocks which pastured on the barren sheep-ground beyond Bethlehem, but lay close to the town, on the road to Jerusalem. A passage in the Mishnah leads to the conclusion that the flocks which pastured there were destined for Temple sacrifices, and, accordingly, that the shepherds who watched over them were not ordinary shepherds. The latter were under the ban of Rabbinism, on account of their necessary isolation from religious ordinances, and their manner of life, which rendered strict legal observance unlikely, if not absolutely impossible. . . . Of the deep symbolic significance of such a coincidence, it is needless to speak.

I was so touched by the fact that these were no ordinary sheep, I wrote the following:

Those were no ordinary sheep . . .

no common flocks,

huddled in sleep

among the fields,

the layered rocks,

near Bethlehem

That Night;

but those

selected for the Temple sacrifice:

theirs to atone for sins

they had not done.

How right

the angels should appear

to them

That Night.

Those were no usual shepherds

there, but outcast shepherds

whose unusual care

of special sheep

made it impossible to keep

Rabbinic law,

which therefore banned them.

How right

the angels should appear

to them

That Night.

—RUTH BELL GRAHAM

God decided to make the arrival of His Son startlingly different from what the world expected. So, the night of His Son’s birth, He sent a heavenly host of angels to announce the birth to humble shepherds on a hillside in Judaea. What a present for them!

The world expected the Christ to arrive in a scene of dazzling splendor, like a king from heaven. But no, God planned it otherwise. He made the scene of the nativity radiant with the simplicity of a lowly manger, with Joseph, the husband of Mary, and the shepherds, and the beasts of burden in the stalls round about. Instead of princely robes of velvet and satin, our Lord was wrapped in swaddling clothes, and He lay in a bed of straw.

— DALE EVANS ROGERS

FROM CHRISTMAS IS ALWAYS

Late, very late, there was a commotion outside. Men were shouting and running, their sandals scuffing on the dirt. Aaron poked Anna, his finger on his lips. Quietly, the