HEART-BREAKING SCENE

It really breaks my heart to see someone crying, I almost feel like crying myself, especially if it is a child. That is just what happened to me when I saw little Johnny, looking at the Christmas Tree; all Christmas Eve, till late in the night, and throughout Christmas Day.

No, little Johnny was not crying because his mum was ill in bed; no, not because his father was away from home; not even because he had no brother or sister to play with. He was heart-broken, because he was disappointed.

He had been writing letters to Santa Claus asking him for a red and green toy train, which he had dreamt of for so long, but the train never arrived. He was let down. But why? He had done his utmost to obey his mum and dad during the last weeks before Christmas. But why?

There he sat, shedding tears, which he couldn’t hold back. O what a heart-breaking sight. Who knows for how many nights he will be ‘Dreaming of a Black Christmas’. You wish you could take him to the first toy shop to buy him his dream-toy. What a shame, what a disappointment! Years will pass and, I’m sure,  he keeps dreaming about  this ‘A Black Christmas’.

Now, that the Christmas season is on its way out, we start putting down and packing the Christmas Tree with its decorations, festoons and what not. We pack away the tinsel, the cards we received. We certainly, pack up  … for next year …. Baby Jesus, together with the straw and manger. We sort of feel that void as we had got used to seeing and appreciating the warm-loving sight of Christmas.

But that is where Johnny comes in. Do you think that Baby Jesus, is going to remain the Betlehem Baby, He starts on His earthly Mission, and just like Johnny He will disappoint Himself in seeing how WE behave. NO, Christmas Day should be every single day of our life; that warmth, admiration, love-sharing atmosphere and joy.

That is where Jesus disappoints Himself as much as Johnny, and more, seeing what humility He suffered to be born amongst us, to offer us salvation, love, cure of soul and body, His compassion.  But many of us, will not be giving the red green train to Jesus. Unfortunately, for many, Christmas is a cultural occasion, just a day in the calendar; once it’s over, it is forgotten.

‘No, Jesus, thank you for your birth, an occasion to party, dine, sing, eat and drink, exchange presents, but once it’s over … see you next year.’ Who can make up for Johnny’s disappointment, for his let-down, his misery? I wonder if a bigger, nicer train would suffice to wipe away his disappointments. I wonder. He was expecting it, specifically from Santa. Just as Jesus is expecting that ‘something’ from me and from you. No, Jesus expects nothing expensive. He expects a return of His love through our neighbours.

Jesus, sweet and tender was born specifically for you, to die for you, the reason why we greet each other with: “A Happy Christmas”… and you are, disappointing Him if you do not accept His gift of Salvation.
Do not let Jesus down … you will be letting yourself down.                                Do not disappoint Jesus … you will be disappointing yourself.                               Do not try to ignore Jesus … you will be ignoring yourself.                                    Jesus has a ‘Gift’ for you, accept it … and may you be born again in the coming New Year, 2014.