O Holy Night

God brought a special little girl into my life several years ago when I was asked to become her mentor.  When she clung to my leg and begged me to come back, how was I going to say no to that pleading face…I didn’t.  We’ve had fun over the last three years and one such time was about this time a year ago. 

            My husband’s and my Sunday School class had a cook-out at one of the members home out in the country.  My little friend had just had a hard, emotional week and I thought it would be good for her to get out and have a change of scenery and have some fun.  I asked her if she would like to go to this party which included a hay ride.  She asked what a hay ride was.  Oh, the simple pleasures we take for granted, even a lot of children, not realizing that a lot of other children do not get to experience such things.

            My husband and I took her to this party and it was a night full of firsts for her.  She saw her first bonfire which our host provided.  It was a huge one and so were her eyes because of it.  She took her first hayride, which she absolutely loved.  She was able to get up close to some horses, another first and was amazed at how big they were.  And her eyes couldn’t believe all the thousands of stars she was seeing in the huge, black, open sky.  She had never seen stars like this, having lived in the middle of town where all the city lights are always shining.  She had never seen, didn’t even know what a shooting star was.  As my husband, I and our little friend were standing on a hill, in the dark, with the smell of the bonfire going, Keith proceeded to tell her what it was.  Just as the three of us looked up into this magnificent universe, God did the neatest thing.  He sent the most brilliant, bright shooting star across the dark sky that lasted longer than Keith or I had ever seen.  It lasted a good 6-7 seconds.  The expression on this little girl’s face was priceless! 

            Many years ago…a holy night…our dear Savior was born.  On this night at the friend’s farm, I believe was another holy night.  There were at least a hundred people at this place and yet I think no one knew except for me observing my nine year old friend.  Her short life has been hard and so this one particular night I believe was a holy one, because in her sadness, God let her experience her first hayride, seeing horses up close for the first time, her first bonfire, and her first and the most glorious shooting star ever. This night was for her.   

            That first bright star that led the shepherds must have been an awesome sight.  It led them to the Christ child.  This night of first experiences for a little girl was topped off with another bright, glorious star…another awesome sight.  It gave a brief but poignant and holy moment to mention Jesus to her.  I pray it will be a stepping stone for this child being led to Christ, the One who saves souls and brings joy to the joyless.  She went home this night with a bigger smile than when she came.

            Thank you Father for not just one holy night, but two…not just for one bright, shining star, but two.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining…..