Talk for Dec. 17, 2011

I love Christmas carols. If you come into our home, you will notice displays of carolers on most of the flat surfaces. I imagine them like the heavenly host from Luke 2, singing joyfully and triumphantly for the long awaited birth of our Savior. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.“
One of my favorite carols is about a King from Czechoslovakia in the 1400’s:

“Good King Wenceslas”

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather

"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

I love these lyrics, because the King doesn’t order the page to bring in the poor man by himself, “forth they went together.” And when the page struggles with the dark and cold as he follows, the King comforts and encourages him, telling him to “tread in his footsteps and it will be less cold. As the page steps in his master’s steps, “Heat was in the very sod, which the Saint had printed”.
The image of this carol is meaningful to me, all year long.

This week, we finished the 1st 12 days of December, secretly dropping off goodies to our neighbors across the street for 12 days. I knew the situation in their “household”. (An elderly 93 year old grandmother, her daughter, her granddaughter, and 2 mentally handicapped teenage great grand children of the granddaughter.) Our 3 year old granddaughter, Kate, was in on the fun as we lined up each of the wrapped goodies in anticipation of the next day’s sneaky “drop off”. We would carefully cross the street, heading the opposite direction, in case they suspected us. Then, we would cross through yards and hedges to slip sideways to their front door. Kate got pretty good. She knew the path after a few days and could get in and out pretty smoothly. Every day, we would laugh quietly all the way home, because who doesn’t like goodies? On the 12th day, we delivered 12 drum shaped sugar cookies, actually rang their door bell, and stood for their answer. Phyllis, the granddaughter, who I knew best, came to the door. We explained that we were their “true friends” (like it had said on every tag of goodies). And we just wanted to wish them a Merry Christmas. About that time, she stepped out onto the porch, pulling the door behind her so as not to let in the cool air. As she did, we noticed a big, metal hospital bed set up in their living room, right next to the front door. We couldn’t see details clearly, but we all knew that the frail grandmother lay cared for on that bed. Phyllis explained that the bed only fit in that front room. We tried to make conversation, both now knowing that behind her front door was not the typical front room setting. She was very pleased about the goodies and hadn’t suspected anyone, really. Then, as if we were her visiting teachers, the words came out, “So, if there is ever anything you need, please give me a call.” She thanked us kindly and smiled as she turned to step back inside.
Kate had seen what I saw, and the walk home was a little more somber than the other days. I answered a few of her concerned questions on the way home. . . Two things I did know: 1) They were the first in our neighborhood to display Christmas lights. I knew they celebrated Christmas. 2) Every day after the “drop off” the goodies had been retrieved within a few minutes. They must have looked forward to them. It still feels good to know, even though life behind each of our doors is different, that a better friendship has been formed.
I have thought about them every day.

This talk could have easily ended at the assigned 3 minute mark, however a small miracle happened that you might like to know. . .

Our doorbell rang,just as I was putting these thoughts together. I hurried to open the front door. To my great delight, Phyllis is standing there with an arm full of goodies - A chocolate cheesecake and a big Christmas stocking with coloring books inside, especially for Kate. I was in awe. I could only hug her.

Like Good King Wenceslas, are my footsteps big and warm enough to comfort and give compassion to someone else? Or, like the page, am I thankful for the examples of others footsteps that make my path less cold? Humbly, I began to feel the warmth of her footprints.

The last verse of “O Holy Night”, sings:
Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace.
I pray that "heat will be in the very sod" of our footprints as we live by His teachings to love and serve one another.