You Don't See That Everyday!

Back in the day, before us girls had any self-awareness or dignity, Mom and Aunt Hilda easily talked us into their wild plans for “fun and spreading Christmas cheer”.  It was an unnecessary torment, but we complied since cell phones weren’t invented yet. Multiple years we dressed up like santas and visited locals, who were usually elderly and held low expectations. There was always a shortage on costumes because we needed six! None of the masks were any beauties, some were cracked, and most smelled like they’d been stored in the barn for generations, but they got the job done of covering our faces, an absolute necessity for our extremely shy little troupe. I recall the year we came up one mask too short and our mothers made a desperate move nobody had permission to talk about for many moons. They marched into the bedroom, grabbed a pair of peach colored silky drawers, cut out eye holes, and put some blush where they imagined the cheeks would be! Aunt Hilda (a statuesque 5’8”) confidently wore those underpants on top of her head, thinking nobody would notice. Now while they were distracted crafting her “mask”, I was busy stuffing my Mrs. Santa dress with pillows to make it look like I was pregnant, which we girls thought was ridiculously funny. Finally, away we went to spread Christmas cheer. Now imagine six haggard-looking santas getting out of a truck and walking up to your front door. Times were different then, so the couple opened the door and welcomed us into their warm cozy one room house. They sat on the bed across from us as we all squeezed together on their couch, a task even more difficult with my now protruding belly. Turns out our hosts were just as shy as we were, so nobody said a word. They sat and looked at us, and we sat and looked at them. I’m certain we had the better view. Imagine staring at a couch full of unsightly santas; the fidgety one seemed to be pregnant which was confusing, and the tall one’s eyes blinked through holes in underpants she wore on top of her head. Once we figured our hosts were about as full of Christmas cheer as they could be, and we began to sweat from the abundant heat emanating off the coal stove, someone mercifully pushed a gift towards them. The transaction of cheer completed, we rose in unison and walked out the door, hearing one of them say behind us, “Well, you don’t see that every day.”
        I wonder what moments of amazement surrounded the arrival of Jesus on that silent night in Bethlehem. First of all, Mary and Joseph would have been filled with awe when Baby Jesus arrived as a result of a virgin birth. The Innkeeper probably was shocked to discover a human baby had been born in his stable. The shepherds would have been blown away when the angels appeared and lighted up their corner of the dark pasture.  And the Magi, who were Gentiles seeking truth, pushed their gifts across the room to the Christ Child and were captivated.
     Fast forward 2000+ years and Jesus is still greater than our comprehension. He came to Earth as a human baby, fulfilling numerous prophecies so we would know He’s the real deal; a baby who would 33 years later provide the only way for us to get to Heaven when we step out of this life into eternity.  All we have to do is accept the gift. It can be done in serene silence or with lights of a thousand angels.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 It’s such an unparalleled gift you could say, “You don’t see that every day!”

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