In the Quiet: a Christmas
Reflection
In all
the flurry of Christmas preparations, programs, parties, gifts, and unexpected
events, my most favorite part is in the quiet.
Growing up, our house was located a block from our
church so, weather permitting, our family would walk the short distance to
attend the services. After the 11 o’clock candlelight Christmas Eve service, we
would usually walk home together. However, on occasion I would walk home by
myself. It was in those quiet, unrushed walks when I truly felt the impact of
Christmas. Night’s cold air accompanied me as I would stare into the
star-filled sky and imagine a host of angels announcing the birth of the Christ
child to those startled shepherds. At times, I thought I could hear the angel
chorus. But it was the stillness of the
wind, the quiet of the sleepy, little town, and the pure silence of the night
that made my heart pound with the wonder of Christmas.
Then, later as a mother of four, Christmas Eve day
became a continual list of to-dos. By
the time night came, and the kids and my husband were pretending sleep in their
beds, I would finally have the chance to be selfish. I would turn off all the
lights except the Christmas tree, snitch a cookie left for Santa, collapse in
my favorite chair, and absorb the quiet.
In the silence, I would again reflect upon the significance of the
season, appreciate the brief existing peace, and look forward to Christmas
morn.
Now, as the years have passed and our children have
grown with homes of their own, Christmas Eves are celebrated in a variety of
ways. However, no matter the form, the
quiet will find me. Perhaps it will
appear in the beauty of the glittering Christmas tree or maybe in the night as
I venture outside for one last glance into the solemn, starlit sky. And perhaps once again my imagination will
take me to that first Christmas Eve when Jesus came to save us for Him.
“That night in the
fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an
angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory
flashed around them. The shepherds were
frightened. But the angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you,
which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior
was born for you. He is Christ the
Lord.’” Luke 2: 8-11 CEV (you emphasized)