âAll these years weâve been so generous. Iâm afraid weâve given all our wealth away. Iâm afraid we have no more to give.â
Winter Cherries, as told by Odds Bodkin
May this problemâone that brings into focus an amazing aspect of the gift of Christmasâbe one we might have to face.
Every year we listen to the story of Sir Cleges and his wife Dame Claris as wonderfully retold by Odds Bodkin in âWinter Cherries.â I always cry. As Christmas approaches the old knight and his wife realize their generosity has outstripped their means.
âYou mean, weâre poor as well?â
âIâm afraid we are.â
âBut the little childrenâŠâ
Sir Clegesâ thoughts go immediately to the little children. So he goes outside and kneels in the snow. âOh Lord, Iâm old, Iâve not got many more years. All I want is to spend the rest of my days just giving it all away. Help me Lord.â
I leave the rest of the story for your fond discovery or rediscovery. Suffice to say, the Lord hears his prayer. Who am I to say, but it seems such a prayer, earnestly said, would indeed touch the Lordâs heart. May the Lord teach us to pray for what he wants us to have.
Christmas has always been associated with helping the poorâmaterially, spiritually, or other. At this annual celebration we are reminded that God identifies himself with the poor. They were not simply his project; they were his kin and kind.
The story of Cleges and Claris reminds us of an age when perhaps âthe poorâ were more obvious, and helping them a bit more straightforward. But surely then as always, the deeper poverty is the more significant, one which makes unique demands on our time and energy, even when not our material resources.
The materially poor have always known to come asking at Christmas time; and this is as much a gift to us as it is to them. But many of the needy, perhaps including ourselves, will not know for what to ask this Christmas, not knowing their own greatest needs.
Oh Lord, help us to see these needs. And help us to address them, no matter the cost. May this be your gift to us, especially at Christmas.
âFor the rest of their days, he and his wife Dame Claris, had plenty of gold, plenty of silver, to give away to the little children on Christmas eve.â We wish you all such a very Merry Christmas!
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Donât forget to go to Sofiaâs Corner for your Christmas Carol printable booklet, audio files to learn/practice the songs, AND lists of stories to read-a-loud for all ages this Christmas!
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