OCR Text |
Show Mgl Circumstance & Recently there came into our hands the following firsthand report by a young father of an experience he had in his home the week before Christmas. g with "I was our four older children while my wife took the baby for his check-ug to me baby-sittin- p. December 19. 2003 - The Eureka Reporter - Page Three (Baby-sittin- means reading the paper while the kids mess up the house.) Only that day I wasn't reading. I was fuming. On every page of the paper, as I flicked angrily through them, gifts glittered and reindeer pranced, and I was told that there were only six more days in which to rush out and buy what I couldn't afford and nobody needed. What, I asked my self indignantly, did the glitter and rush have to do with the birth of Christ? There was a knock on the door of the study where I had barricaded myself. Then Nancy's voice, "Daddy, we have a play to put on. Do you only, Tm an angel." want to see it?" Then came Anne, 8. I I didn't. But I had fatherly knew right away she repreresponsibilities so I followed sented a wiseman. In the first her into the living room. Right place she moved like she was away I knew it was a Christ- riding a camel (she had on her mas play, for at the foot of mother's high heels). And she the piano stool was a lighted was bedecked with all the jewelry available. On the pilflashlight wrapped in swadin low she carried three items, a shoe clothes lying dling box. undoubtedly gold, frankincense and myrrh. Rex, age 6, came in wearbathrobe She undulated across the and carrying my handle. He on sat a room, bowed to the flashlight, ing mop the stool and looked at the to Mary, to Joseph, to the anflashlight. Nancy, 10, draped gel and to me and then ana sheet over her head, stood nounced, "I am all three behind Rex and began, "I'm wisemen. I bring precious Mary and this boy is Joseph. gifts: gold, circumstance and Usually in this play Joseph mud." stand up and Mary sits down. That was all. The play is But Mary sitting down taller was over. I didn't laugh. I than Joseph standing up so prayed. How near the truth we thought it looked better Anne was! We come at Christmas burdened down this way." Enter Trudy, 4, at a full run. with goldwith the showy She has never learned to gift and the tinsely tree. Under the circumstances we walk. There were pillowcases over her arms. She can do no other, circumspread them wide and said stances of our time and place and custom. And it seems a bit like mud when we think of it. But I looked at the shining faces of my children, as their audience of one applauded them, and remembered that this Child came into a material world and in so doing eternally blessed the material. He accepted the circumstances, imperfect and frustrating, into which He was born, and thereby infused them with the And as for mudto you and me it may be something to sweep off the rug, but to all children it is something to build with. Children see so surely through the tinsel and habit and earthly, to the love which strains for expression. Here hoping the holiday season delivers everything you've wanted. Please accept our best wishes and gratitude. Merry Christmasl Eureka City Volunteer Fire Department Factory Authorized Dealer & Service Center Chain Saw Sharpening and Repairs fat mflo w a cMM if aan unto mammk fhwftf and tha II jpi thotddnt and Mb HflMf flhflV 90 aUtd Wtw4rrfut Cam floe p The mighty f IMF Th fUUAVL, tvflfNMIinjI tM, imUWtf Uinta of Panco WeUt proud to join you and pour lbm at sharing the tnktxkf of Christmas. Carpenter Seed Company St. Patrick's Church 1030 So. State Provo, UT 373-374- 0 I TW Pf mfiWnVB WWII DHI VMIH WHO IIWM B OW QnWnl fritndt. Knovrtnfl you hot bttn sbnply hMVMty tof im IWMmBTf QJRranHBj The Beauty VmmHm fiark The Hannifin Family I |