Wiregrass Seniors Magazine December 2017 DECEMBER ISSUE | Page 19

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As the summer wore into autumn, and the leaves
began to drop from the trees, the accommodations in the
movie theater were no longer available. It was time to move
on again, and the new location was found. This time we
were shuffled to an old, gray barn. It was not much to look
at, but it served the purpose -- and our active, hard-work-
ing, and still-growing community gathered at this rustic
spot, now filled with folding chairs.
It took a long time to get wiring in this dimly lit struc-
ture to supply us with light, heat, and a microphone. Rev-
erend Appleby fortunately had a sense of humor and a
booming voice. However, as October turned into Novem-
ber, and Thanksgiving ushered in Advent, our necessity
for heavy coats during church became more apparent.
The cold weather brought preparation but still no
permanent church. December wore on and Christmas Eve
appeared in a flash.
We had a checklist before church; hats, check,
gloves, check....... "Honey, let's keep the kids extra warm.
It may snow tonight. " Robby, our second child, mumbled,
"Mommy, do we have to go? It's too cold."
"Yes, honey, we do. It is Christmas Eve, and if we
have time to wait for Santa, we have time to go to church
and remember Jesus' birthday."
So we packed up
the children and drove to the barn. "This is an exception-
ally blustery night," I remarked. "It is a good thing that
Daddy remembered the blanket, isn't it?"
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"Yes!" the three children yelled in unison. Dusk slipped
into darkness as we parked along the old country road
and trudged along to the barn, children in tow, wrapped
up so much that they could barely walk. We entered our
familiar "church."
The old, gray barn was no longer just an old, gray
barn. It had been transformed into a nativity scene -- a
real one, with a real manger and real sheep and a cow
and a donkey. Hay was everywhere. The eyes of the chil-
dren were filled with sheer wonder. Amid the animals were
people. The woman wore a blue robe, and the man was
in old, brown sackcloth tied with a rope. He held a staff,
and she held an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes. They
were not just people; they were the Holy Family. They were
surrounded by shepherds tending the flock. I don't re-
member what the music was, if there was any. Nor do I
remember what the sermon was, if one was given. I don't
even know if we stayed warm enough. I do remember
being in the presence of the true spirit of Christmas. It
was magnificent.
That Christmas Eve celebration could have lasted
forever. We finally left the barn to find that snow was lightly
falling and the stars were announcing the birth of Jesus.
We all felt a silent joy at the miraculous event we had
been witness to. Eventually, we did find a church to call
our own. But nothing ever came close to that Christmas
Eve of wonder, with Jesus in the old, gray barn.