Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men

December 8, 2020

By Phil Ransom

I’m remembering fondly today the country church Christmas programs we had (hate to say it, but) 50 years ago.
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Snowbound Country Church

Shy youngins barely able to whisper lines they drove Dad ‘n Mom crazy with just last week at home.
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Eager grade school kids on stage mixed with “you go ahead” chums.
Pretty easy to tell, isn’t it, who’s choosing to do this over getting in trouble for not?.
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Carols we know so well we could sing it for them, almost-humming along, encouraging with attentive eyes.
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Bathrobes. Towels. Make-shift ropes to hold things in place.
Well, at least the shepherd’s rod is real. Tell me, what is Myrrh again?
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Reluctant 7th & 8th graders avoiding eye contact with high-schoolers who are glad they don’t have to do this anymore.
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The best part of the night wasn’t finally finishing.
No, the best part of the night was when the men of the church came in with boxes of treat-filled paper bags for all the children:
Salted peanuts, mixed nuts, a candy cane or two, a popcorn ball made with loving hands, an orange, ribbon Christmas candy and —oh-there’s-one!— chocolate creme candies. SO good! Mine never even made it across the parking lot to the parsonage.
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Merry Christmas, friends. Take a little time to think back again this year and remember.
Listen to a few old tales of the unexpected,
of weathering Christmas blizzards,
of boys home from the service.
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Peace on earth, good will toward men.

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