Christmas Gems (continued)
had written, “To the Baby Jesus, Beth lehem.” Inside was a letter which caught the interest of 'the press, for she had written in large letters, “Dear Jesus, I am writing to You instead of Santa, because You are what Christ mas is. I would like to say before we all forget, ‘Happy Birthday’ and thank You for the present of Yourself. Love, Susan.” While tlfe postmen were not able to deliver the letter, the Lord got the message. May our hearts' also be gripped with the thought of God’s great love G ift of whom we read, “He made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Wherefore God also hath highly exalt ed him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” NAILS Since Joseph was a carpenter when Jesus was a Boy, The Lad would sit and play with nails, nor needed other toy. He had a pocket full of them, a little hammer too: A block of wood He pounded full. But as He older grew Joseph taught Him how to be a work man skilled and true, One who took pride in honest work, as a workman ought to do. For three years then He went about His earthly ministry Of dealing with the souls of men; and yet I think that He When visiting at some friend's home, would find it good again To work with hammer and with nails as is the way of men. But one day on a little hill between the earth and sky. Men nailed Him to a shameful cross and left Him there to die. The great nails pierced His tender hands; precious the blood that ran; The sharp nails tore His bleeding feet, 0 dying Son of Man! And whose hand placed the cruel nails, and whose hand drove them through? May God forgive me, it was I; yes I, and you and YOU! 16
THE SIN THAT GREW A t Christmas time things were diffi cult for an extremely poverty stricken family. The children, a young bay and a little girl had experienced few of the joys most children have showered upon them the 25th of December. Christmas was only a few days away and the mother made a rag doll for her daugh ter out of a few scraps of cloth, stuff ing it with oats. Meanwhile the father made a bow and arrow for the bay. When Christmas came the children were thrilled with what they got. As is usually the case, however, a few days after Christmas they bitterly quar relled. In a fit of temper the boy took his sister’s beloved doll and buried it in the backyard. In vain, the whole fam ily searched for days for the rag toy. The girl was broken hearted. The boy pretended to look as hard as the rest of the fam ily but all to no avail, of course. It wasn’t too many days after this that he heard his mother’s voice calling, “Come outside, son.” When he stood beside her he was horrified to see some green blades springing up in the garden in a very curious form: a body, arms, legs and a head. The oats, with which the doll had been stuffed, had started to grow and the evidence was unmistakable. He was, of course, pun ished for the sin he thought he had so carefully hidden. It may be that we, too, have tried to plant some sin in the garden of life, seeking to hide it from friends as well as from the Sav iour. Be assured that the Lord already knows about it for His Word teaches us, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” “But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins anfL to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” A BIRTHDAY CARD FOR JESUS It was in Belleview, New Jersey that postmen were somewhat confused to know what to do. So, marked, “Re turned for Better Address,” the letter was sent back to a little nine year old girl. On the front, little Susan Long
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