Kim and I have been directing and working on the play “Mame” at the Baytown Little Theater recently. A featured musical number in the show is the song, “Need a Little Christmas” in which Mame, her nephew and faithful staff sings and decorates their house in an attempt to capture a spirit of cheer. Set in the depression era and the great Stock Market Crash, Mame suddenly finds herself without funds to pay her staff and barely enough money to eat more than Shredded Wheat for dinner. Knowing that Christmas is the one time of year when they are happy and even though their situation is bleak, they realize their need for the holiday.
Like Mame, we also need a little Christmas. Not just the holiday with the lights, ornaments, trees, and gifts, but Christ the child for which Christmas is celebrated. We need Christ in our lives. God sent his son to be born in a manger on a cold winter night in Bethlehem. He sent us a little Christmas in the form of Baby Jesus to save us from our sins and our earthly struggles.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
The phone rings and a creditor demands payment. We need a little Christmas. A loved one has passed from this life. We need a little Christmas. Hurtful words pierce our hearts and forgiveness is difficult. We need a little Christmas. The teen stormed out of his parent’s house with shouts of hate. We need a little Christmas. A single mother weeps as she puts her child to bed without a hot meal in her belly. We need a little Christmas. The laborer’s only vehicle to work sits dead on the driveway. We need a little Christmas. We are losing faith. We need a little Christmas.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
Christ is born. Glory to God!
(Scriptures: Luke 2:11-12, 13-14)
No comments:
Post a Comment