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Christmas Story for Children
The Rev. Karen Lynn Woo serves two churches in Nebraska – Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church in Lexington, and First Presbyterian Church in Cozad. Every year, close to Christmas, the local newspaper in Cozad runs a special section that includes articles by the local pastors. Since beginning her work in Cozad, Karen has chosen to write a children’s Christmas story for the paper. I have always found that well written children’s stories also have an important message for adults. I share this one with you as a way of celebrating the Advent season with you and a prayer that you will take the time to be quiet and wait, with anticipation, the coming of Jesus Christ this Christmas and, at precisely the right time, his coming again as King of kings and Lord of lords. Sylvia Dooling "Are You
Sure?” "Mom," said Allison, “Listen to this, ‘Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” Then he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them -- it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.” Then they asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” “Sounds a bit scary, doesn’t it?" replied Allison’s mother, Margaret. “What are you reading anyway?” “The Bible,” said Allison. “It's right here in the Gospel of Luke. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard our pastor read, let alone preach on, these verses. What do you suppose it means when it says, ‘. . . on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left; and there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left?’ Who gets left behind and who doesn’t?” “Sounds like a question for Aunt Kay. She'll be here on Monday. You can ask her,” her mother replied. Three days later, Margaret’s older sister Kay arrived for her annual Pre-Christmas visit. “Aunt Kay!” said Allison giving her favorite aunt a big hug. “I’m so glad to see you! I have a question for you.” “Oh good,” said Aunt Kay with a smile. “I love playing stump the pastor. Still having doubts about your salvation?” Allison shook her head remembering how the last time Aunt Kay had visited Allison had shared her concern about her salvation with her. “Aunt Kay, Allison had asked, “do you think I'll go to heaven when I die?” “Why Allison,” Aunt Kay had replied, “What would make you ask such a question? Haven't you asked Jesus to come into your heart? Didn't you tell Him you want Him to be your Lord and Savior?” “Yes,” said Allison, nodding her head in the affirmative, “I did that a long time ago.” Aunt Kay bent down and put her face right in front of Allison’s so that they were almost nose to nose, “Then what makes you think you might not go to heaven when you die?” With tears in her eyes, Allison confessed she was worried about her salvation because she had done some pretty terrible things. “What if God won't forgive me?” she cried. Aunt Kay looked deep into her eyes and whispered, “Did you tell God you were sorry and that you won't do it again?” “Yes,” said Allison, nodding in the affirmative. “Then there’s nothing to worry about,” Aunt Kay told her. “But what if what I did was so bad God can't forgive me?” cried Allison. Aunt Kay gave Allison a squeeze and said, “There’s nothing you can do that God won’t forgive if you are truly sorry and you tell Him so.” “Are you sure?” asked Allison. “I’m sure,” said Aunt Kay. “But how do you know that?” asked Allison. “Because darling,” responded Aunt Kay, “the Bible says so. You know the Bible is God’s Word to us and that you can trust what God says to us through His Word, right?” Allison nodded. “Well, the Bible says God will never leave us or forsake us. He loves us so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth and allowed Him to die on a cross for our sin . . . for all the bad things we have ever done or will ever do . . . and then He resurrected Jesus three days later so that when we die all of us who have asked Jesus into our hearts . . . all of us who have told Jesus we want Him to be the Lord of our lives . . . all of us who follow His teachings . . . can go to heaven and live forever with Him. Does that answer your question?” Allison's heart had felt immediately lighter. “Yes,” she said smiling. “Thank you Aunt Kay!” “So Allison,” said Aunt Kay breaking into Allison's thoughts, “What is this question you have for me?” “Oh,” said Allison. “I was reading the Bible you gave me last Christmas and I came across these words in the Gospel of Luke that I've never heard before. They sounded kind of scary and I got a little worried so mom said I should ask you about them.” “Ahhhh,” said Aunt Kay with a knowing look. “And just which words have you been reading that have put fear into your heart yet again?” Allison read her the words she had read to her mother just three days before. “I’m surprised you’ve never heard these words before,” said Aunt Kay, “especially during the season of Advent.” “I thought the season of Advent was about remembering the anticipation and expectation which surrounded the birth of Jesus.” said Allison. “It is,” replied Aunt Kay. “But that is only half of the story. The other half is about the anticipation and expectation of that day when Jesus will come again. But what is it about these words that 'caused you to be afraid?” Tears began to form in Allison’s eyes as she said, “I'm afraid I might be left behind.” “I see. Well, I can understand why the thought of being left behind might cause one to be fearful,” Aunt Kay replied, “but what makes you think Jesus will leave YOU behind?” “What makes you think He won’t?” cried Allison. “The passage says ‘on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.’ How can I be sure I won’t be the one left behind?” “Oh I see what you're getting at,” said Aunt Kay. “Well let’s look again at what Jesus says to His disciples just before that verse, “Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it.” It’s the same thing He told His followers about the cost of discipleship in Luke 9:23-24: “Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.’ ” You can be certain you won’t be left behind because you are one of Jesus’ disciples . . . one of His followers.” “Are you sure?” asked Allison. “I’m as sure that you will not be left behind when Jesus comes again as I am that you are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ,” said Aunt Kay. “Oh thank you!” shouted Allison giving her aunt another big hug. “I was so worried!” Aunt Kay hugged her back as she said with a gleam in her eye and a smile on her face, “Merry Christmas!” “It will be now!” said Allison smiling back at her. “A Very Merry Christmas!” Please join my congregations and me on Christmas Eve, December 24th, for morning worship service at 9:30 a.m. (Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church) or 11:00 a.m. (First Presbyterian Church, Cozad) and/or for our candlelight service at 5:00 p.m. (First Presbyterian Church, Cozad) or 6:30 p.m. (Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church). Merry Christmas! ~ Pastor K
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