12 Days Of Christmas: The Wonder Of Children

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall."

- Larry Wilde

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, 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.

- Luke 2:11-12

The story is told of a teacher who shared the Christmas story with her students. She read Luke 2 to them, then taught them to sing the beautiful Christmas carol, “Silent Night.”

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

'Round yon virgin Mother and Child

Holy infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight!

Glories stream from heaven afar;

Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!

Christ the Savior is born!

She then asked each student to draw a picture of that scene in Bethlehem on Christmas morning. As she walked around the room, she saw picture after picture of the stable, the manger with baby Jesus, and Joseph, Mary and the shepherds surrounded by animals. But, when she came to little Johnny’s desk, she noticed a rotund individual in the middle of his picture. Her first thought was, “O No! He is putting Santa in the middle of the Christmas story. How could he have misunderstood?”

So, pointing at the character he had drawn, she asked him, “Johnny, who is that?”

His response, “O Teacher, I thought you would know. That’s Round John Virgin!!”

This Christmas, may we hold tight to the wonder and amazement of children, for whom every tree is 30 feet tall and every one of us, including Round John Virgin, is found right there in the middle of the stable with Jesus, worshipping the newborn King.

Pastor Ken

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