CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM

This is the Christmas I knew growing up on the Farm in the 1930's.


A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER
R. D. ICE

Roger Hefflin came running into the room, followed by his little sister, Janice.

"Grandma! Grandma! It's time to put up the Christmas tree!"

"Christmas tree! Christmas tree!" shouted Janice, bouncing up and down.

"Why Roger, we haven't had Thanksgiving yet. We don't put up the tree until the first of December."

"Grandma," said Roger, "can we have a turkey for Thanksgiving? I want a turkey!"

'I'm sorry. We can't afford a turkey. We would have to buy that. Where would we get the money?"

"I hate being poor!" said Roger. "Why can't we have a turkey like other people do?"

"Turkey! Turkey!" shouted Janice.

"Why Roger, we're not poor. Just look at all we have. Plenty to eat, clothes to keep us warm. And just think of all our friends at church. We are rich in all the things that count. We don't have much money, we have enough to buy what we must have."

"I still wish we could have a turkey."

"We'll have that red rooster that always fights with you children. Can't you just taste it? Fried chicken, lots of beans and dumplings and some of those gooseberries out of the cellar. And a big dried apple cobbler."

"Well," said Roger, "I did want a turkey. But gooseberries and apple cobbler! Yum! Yum!"

"Yum!" screamed Janice.

Thanksgiving came. All the relatives lived too far away to come. But the little family thanked the Lord for His blessings. Grandma Rhonda, Grandpa Kendall, Roger and Janice.


"Grandma! Grandma! It's December first. I saw it on the calendar."

"All right, Roger, we'll put up the tree."

"Grandma, let me help."

"You're too small, Janice. The tree is heavy. Let Roger bring it down."

"Roger, go upstairs to the front room and look in the closet. The tree is packed away in a box with the picture of a tree on it. Bring it down."

Roger ran up the stairs and soon came down dragging the box. He was a proud ten years old and liked to do things. He was a "big man."

"Janice, watch out! I'll fall over you."

Grandma helped him carry the box into the family room. She cleared away the books and magazines from the table. She put a white cloth on the table, then opened the box and took out a piece of green velvet about three feet square. She placed this in the center of the tabletop.
By now Roger had the tree out of the box. Its branches were made of wires with green paper wound around them. These folded out from the central trunk, which was a dowel with brown paper wound around it. The whole tree stood about two feet high. Grandma had found it at an after-Christmas sale. It had now become a family tradition to use this same artificial tree each Christmas.

Roger dug out brightly colored balls to hang on the tree, plus a star to put on top.

"There," he said, "it's ready."

Grandma lifted the tree to the tabletop and set it in its holder.

The Hefflins remembered Jesus every Lord's Day at the 5th Avenue Church as they worshiped in Spirit and truth. The world remembers Jesus at Christmas and Easter.

"Grandma," said Roger," tell us the story of Christmas. I always like to hear it."

Grandma sat in her chair and the children sat at her feet.

"Children, Jesus was a real person. The apostle John tells us that the Word became flesh. He means that God-the-Word became a human being just like us. King David, speaking as a prophet, said of Jesus: 'But a body You have prepared for Me.' So Jesus came to be God's Lamb."

"On the night He was born, shepherds were in the fields with their flocks of sheep. All at once an angel came down from the Lord. The angel said to them: 'For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.' Many other angels joined in praising God. They said, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!' The shepherds hurried off to Bethlehem and found the baby Jesus lying in the manger just as the angel had said."

"Grandma, what does it mean that Jesus is the Savior?"

"He came to be the Lamb of God and the Light of the world! The apostle John said: 'Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.' John means that Jesus brought us God's undeserved kindness and God's truth and love. You will understand more as you get older. Remember the song: 'Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.'"

"Grandma, I love Jesus!" said Roger.

"I love Jesus too," said Janice. She climbed up on Grandma's lap and gave her a big hug.

"Children, remember that Jesus gives us hope! Jesus came to save us so that we could go live with Him in heaven for ever and ever. Jesus came to give us God's love."

The weeks passed and Christmas was near. A few presents were placed under the tree, along with a dish of hard candy. Grandma would buy most of the presents at the after-Christmas sales when prices were cut.

"Children," said Grandpa Kendall, "tomorrow is Christmas eve. Instead of the regular Sunday night worship at church, we'll have a Christmas celebration."

"'Bration! 'Bration!" shouted Janice, bouncing up and down as she usually did.

Sunday evening the little family got in the car and started into the big city. The church was on 5th Avenue at the edge of town. The houses surrounding it were old and so was the church. Seventy people usually came to worship there.

"Kendall!" said Mark Philips, the preacher. "Good to see you. And Rhonda. Roger, hello. Janice." He shook hands with each in turn.

The other children came running up, about eight of them in all. They hugged each other and chattered excitedly.

"Take your seats, everyone." Dave Bly, the songleader, was at the podium.

"Let's begin by singing 'Silent Night.'"

The congregation sang with much emotion. This was a holy evening. They were remembering the birth of their Savior!

The preacher gave a devotion about Jesus and who He was and why He had to come.

Dave Bly led the congregation in a song about coming to Jesus and accepting His Salvation.

Now Dan Smith, one of the church elders, led a prayer to close the service. Then he announced: "Everyone down to the basement. We have a party prepared."

The children led the way as everyone went down the stairs.

Dan Smith rapped for attention.

"All right, children, close your eyes. We have a big surprise for you."

Elza Sims came in, dressed in a Santa suit.

"Open your eyes," said Dan. "Santa has come to visit us. He may have some presents for you."
Elza went around the room and gave each child a paper bag containing several pieces of hard candy and an orange.

"What do we say, children" asked Dan?

"Thank you, Santa, for the presents!" shouted the children.

"Thank you, Elza," said Roger. Everyone laughed.

"Let's sing!" said Dave. He proceeded to lead some carols. Everyone sang with feeling.

Mark Philips, the preacher, stood and rapped for attention.

"We've had our fun," he said. "Now let's get serious for a moment. Shall we pray."

"Dear Lord, we are so happy that Jesus came into our world. On this holy night, we celebrate the birth that gives meaning to everything we hold dear. Especially touch each of our children with Your presence and Your love. Make us all understand the great mystery of Jesus the Light of the world; of the wonderful Savior You sent us; of the hope that we have; of the victory in Jesus. Bless us and fill us with holy joy! We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen."

Everyone shook hands all around. "Merry Christmas, everyone!" was heard many times.

By now the children were tired. Grandma and Grandpa loaded them into the car for the trip home. They would all be up early next morning. The day of all days, Christmas, at the Hefflin Farm.