Article December 21, 1992 Issue

Knowing the Christmas secret

Discerning something of who we really are, of man in God's image, is a priceless gift that brings with it healing.

Barbara M. Vining

My dad took great pleasure in presenting his family with happy surprises. This was especially evident at Christmastime. Late Christmas Eve after we had all gone to bed, Dad would put the last gift out by the Christmas tree. He wouldn't wrap it. He would just set it out in the open for all to see. On Christmas morning it was almost as much fun to watch his face when the gift was discovered as it was to observe the "Oh's!" and the "Ah's!" of the person receiving the gift. Occasionally Dad would let me in on his secret beforehand, and we would share the delicious anticipation involved in knowing the secret throughout the remaining days of Christmas preparations.

There is nothing quite like the inner delight of knowing something special. Best of all is the spiritual knowledge we gain when we listen to angel messages from our heavenly Father, God. Can you imagine how Mary must have felt when the angel Gabriel told her, "That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God"? And how thrilling it was for the shepherds when "the angel of the Lord came upon them" and said, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord"?

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