Christmas brings hope

It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow!  The Christian world will be one in celebrating the birthday of our Savior Jesus Christ who was born 2013 years ago.  The Christmas carol, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing written by Charles Wesley in 1739 helps us reflect on the true meaning of this special day.

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King. Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise.
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!” …

Hail the heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth.
Born to give them second birth.  … Reinstate us in Thy love. Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the Life, the inner man: Oh, to all Thyself impart, formed in each believing heart.

Christmas is a time of healing.  Yes, it is also a time for giving, for sharing and for caring.  Our country in general has been suffering from the fools of government.  Our countrymen down south are afflicted right now by Yolanda’s wrath.  We have brothers and sisters around the world who are stricken with sickness, suffering and despair.     

When I lived in Wisconsin, USA there was a very beautiful and heartwarming story going around the neighborhood about Santa and a very sick girl named Sarah.  A little boy and his grandmother went to see Santa in a Wisconsin mall. The boy had with him a picture of his little sister Sarah who was sick with leukemia. The boy told Santa that his sister very much wanted to come and see him too, but that she couldn’t because she was very ill. After Santa gave the boy his gift, his grandmother came to help him get down from Santa’s lap.  The grandmother wanted to say something to Santa but halted. Santa asked her what it was. She then asked if it wasn’t too much for her to ask if he could visit her granddaughter Sarah. This was her only wish for Christmas.

Santa went to visit Sarah at the hospital. He saw how frail the child was. She was surrounded by her family. Santa entered the room with a hearty Ho! Ho! Ho!  “Santa!” shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed to run to him, IV tubes intact.  Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug. A child the tender age of his own son gazed up at him with wonder and excitement.  Her skin was pale and her short tresses bore telltale bald patches from the effects of chemotherapy. But all he saw when he looked at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes. His heart melted and he had to force himself to choke back tears. Though his eyes were riveted upon Sarah’s face, he could hear the gasps and quiet sobbing of the women in the room.

Santa and Sarah talked and talked, and she told him excitedly all the toys she wanted for Christmas, assuring him she’d been a very good girl that year.  As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray for Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl’s mother.  She nodded in agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah’s bed holding hands. Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels. “Oh yes Santa, I do!” she exclaimed. Santa told Sarah that he was going to ask the angels to watch over her.

Laying one hand on the child’s head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed. He asked that God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease. He asked that the angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when he finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing softly, “Silent Night, Holy Night…all is calm, all is bright.”

The family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed at them all. When the song ended, Santa sat beside Sarah again, held her frail, small hands and firmly said, “Now Sarah, you have a job to do. You have to concentrate on getting well. I want you to have fun playing with your friends this summer and I expect to see you in my house at the Mayfair Mall this time next year!”

He knew it was risky making that proclamation to a little girl who had terminal cancer. But Santa feels he had to. He had to give Sarah the greatest gift he could give – not dolls or games – but the gift of HOPE. “Yes, Santa!” Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright. Santa kissed her on the forehead and left the room.

One year later, Santa was back in the mall for his seasonal job which he loves to do. One day, a child came up to sit on his lap. “Hi Santa! Remember me?” “Of course, I do,” Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her.  After all, the secret to being a “good” Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the “only” child in the world at that moment. “You came to see me in the hospital last year!” Santa’s jaw dropped. Tears immediately sprang in his eyes. He grabbed this little miracle and held her close to his heart. “Sarah!” he exclaimed.  He scarcely recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were rosy – much different from the little girl he had visited just a year before. He looked over and saw Sarah’s mother and grandmother in the sidelines smiling and waving and wiping their eyes.

That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus. He had witnessed and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing about – this miracle of HOPE. This precious little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and well. He silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, “Thank you, Father. ‘Tis a very, Merry Christmas!”

HOPE changes everything!  God sent Isaiah with a message of hope, the coming of the King who will save humanity.  This is the promise that Christmas brings.  Let us look inside our hearts to make this yuletide season a meaningful one. 

Merry Christmas!