David's Christmas Speech
By Sherri Woodbridge
"For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life.”
John 3:16
avid took a deep breath and began. "What Christmas Means To Me." There was a girl named Mary who was supposed to marry a guy named Joe. Before they got married, she found out she was gonna have a kid. She told Joe that she got pregnant by a Spirit. It was a good spirit because it was God’s spirit and God let her have his spirit because he really liked Mary. Joe still didn’t want to marry her anymore. In those days, girls didn’t have babies that way.”
“Well, it’s not like they have babies that way now, either,” I said aloud. When’s the bell gonna ring?
“I know, but I just meant…”
Miss Nelson interrupted David. “George,” Miss Nelson said, looking straight at me with furrowed brows as she sat behind her desk, her arms crossed.
“Yes, Miss Nelson.” I crouched down in my seat and hid behind Rebecca’s red, frizzy hair, keeping my mouth closed so Papa wouldn’t get another phone call. My back still smarted from the whippin’ he gave me two weeks ago.
Miss Nelson turned to David and nodded. “Please continue, David.”
“Joe decided that he would Mary the next day that he didn’t want to get married anymore, then he ate his dinner and went to bed. While he was sleeping, an angel walked in and woke him up. Joe was scared and jumped out of bed.”
David held up another poster that he had drawn. A man was sleeping in a bed and an angel was standing beside the bed. I shifted in my chair and peered around Rebecca’s big hair. David changed pictures again. The angel was now facing Joe and looked mad.
’Joe’, the angel said, ‘you’ve gotta still marry your girlfriend. God said she didn’t do anything wrong. God put the baby in her. When the baby’s born, call him Jesus because he’s gonna save people.’ The baby had another name, too – a middle name - Manuel. The angel flew back to heaven and Joe and Mary got married. Mary was happy and sang a song to God.
“Then, like in this picture,” David said as held up another drawing, “Joe had to take a trip and Mary went with him. On the way, Mary had to have the baby and the only place was in a barn and it was really cold ‘cuz it was winter and there was snow.
“Joe made a bed using hay for Mary and she had the baby on top of it. The cows and other animals watched ‘cuz they had never seen a baby born in their barn before. They thought it was kinda’ neat. When Jesus Manuel was finally born, he was shining like a big, bright light and the whole barn was bright like the sun. Then some guys who were really smart and some other guys who took care of sheep came to see him and that was the first Christmas.”
David stopped and put his pictures down.
Why would God want to save the world? Me? Papa says I’m no good.
“David,” Miss Nelson said, “you told us what Christmas is to you, but not what it means to you.”
“I wasn’t done yet, ma’am.”
“Oh – I’m sorry, David. Go on.”
David looked down at his red tennis shoes and put his hands in his pants pockets. He finally looked up at Miss Nelson and then he looked at us.
“To me, Christmas means that Jesus was born so that I wouldn’t have to be alone – that he’d always be with me. And, I never feel alone, even when I’m by myself.”
I wonder if Jesus Manuel would do that for me? But, why me? I’m no good.
“Since I believe Jesus is God’s son and He was born to save me, I don’t ever have to be afraid. That’s why He shined so bright when he was born – to remind me that I can always find Him if I get lost. And, Jesus doesn’t make good and bad lists. He just hopes we’ll love Him back when we figure out how much He loves us.”
The bell rang and the other kids hurried out of the room to go home. I sat at my desk, watching David put his pictures away and then start out the door. I quickly gathered my stuff. “Hey David – wait up!” I yelled.
I could see the Light. Jesus loved me and… I really liked that.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm