The Nativity Story, Part Two

Grace Moment by Moment-weekly column
This year marks the sixth year without my Mom, and the second without my Dad. Christmas for them always meant two things: families spending time together and food to share. Mom loved to bake. Each October, she and I would start baking pies ( Sweet potato, Raisin, Apple, pumpkin, lemon meringue, etc.), cookies, our famous Christmas Peanut Butter fudge, equally famous cheese biscuits, cinnamon rolls, and whatever else Mom could think of. The lucky recipients would be our family, friends and the Pastors' families. On Christmas morning, we would roll out of bed, to the smell of steaming hot coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice and hot buttery cinnamon or crescent rolls. Depending on how much money we had.
On a much smaller scale I still bake. These days, members of my family are likely to receive chocolate chip or peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, my Autumn Harvest Peach Pie or Mom's Sugarless Apple Pie.
On Christmas morning, it's usually me and my cat Sweet Pea, enjoying crescent rolls and hot cranberry apple herbal tea. Then later in the day, I'll call my sister, brother, friends and family, long distance and local, to wish them a Merry Christmas!
Which is what I am doing with you today. I pray all of you reading this have a blessed and joyous Merry Christmas, and an equally Happy New Year! I'm also sharing with you my own Christmas tradition, one of my Christmas poems. Enjoy!

The Messiah
Long ago and far away,
there began a brand new day
when time stood still
and revealed to us, God's Will.
We shepherds watched from afar,
the bright and shining Star,
when the Angel appeared,
and told us, "Do not fear!"
Then a Heavenly Host began to sing,
"Jesus Christ has come as King!"
We arose and flew,
to see if it was true!
In Bethlehem we found
Him, and gathered 'round,
to worship Him as King
for the Messiah had come to reign!
On that cold, starry night,
He had shed His awesome might,
coming to earth, a Child
soft, gentle and mild.
His Love unfolding as if in a dream,
flooded earth with its stream,
bathing us in God's sight,
as we beheld His Holy Light.
In this day and age
as nations war in rage,
God wants us to remember,
the time we have to choose Him, won't last forever.
So, during this war-torn holiday season
please consider the reason
Jesus came to this earth:
we have the chance for a new birth.
Through Jesus' atoning sacrifice
we can have eternal life.
The forgiveness of our sins
IF, we ask Him to come and live within
our hearts. Then we too will lift our voices to sing,
"Thank you Father God, the Messiah reigns!"

Written by:
Mildred A. Baker
& Belle Anne Leslie

Written on:
December 19, 1990

Scripture Reference:
Luke 2:8-20

One last note: On Friday, December 1, 2006, the movie The Nativity Story hit theatres nationwide. Please take a couple of hours to go see it. I promise you, it will light a spark of Christmas Spirit in your hearts. Enjoy! Merry Christmas!