Christmas Eve
Vigil
by Robin Bayne
“Mom-Mom, I
hear him,” I whispered, sitting up slightly in bed. With the covers sliding
off, I leaned toward the other twin bed where my grandmother slept, or tried
to, during my all night vigil watching for Santa. Cool air touched my skin, but
my excitement warmed me. “I hear something on the roof.”
I still recall
the sweet scent of her beauty-salon hair-do, as she shook her head and
whispered for me to go to sleep, or Santa couldn’t come visit our house.
Mom-Mom stayed overnight every Christmas Eve, it was a family tradition. I was
no more than five at the time, but the memories of that dark night have never
faded. I knew Santa was out there,
somewhere, nearby, and likely to sweep in close when I wasn’t looking. I had
been good all year, and had faith that Santa knew that.
Deeper in the
night, I looked over and saw my grandmother, appearing to be sitting upright in
a rocking chair. When I woke her to tell her this, she wasn’t pleased.
“Robin, please
go to sleep.” She still whispered, but with an edge to her voice now. “You’re
trying too hard. You know he’ll be here.”
I tried to
comply, I really did. I could then perceive that she was indeed laying down,
not sitting in a chair. But as I lay there, staring into blackness, my belief
grew stronger that Santa was with me, whether or not I could see or hear him.
Most children in our country are lucky, they will have their beliefs confirmed
on Christmas morning. As adults, we need to keep our faith as well, our faith
that God is always with us, whether we physically see Him or not.
We celebrate
the birth of Jesus on Christmas, the one whom we are really accountable too.
Jesus knows who has been naughty and who has been nice. When we stare into long
moments of blackness, we need to keep the childlike wonder fresh, and know that
He could be on our roof at any time. Even better than Santa, God is with us
everyday.
Christmas Forever
Jason hasn't seen Cami in three years. Now she's back, with the son he'd wanted to claim as his own. Can he believe her newly found faith or will she desert him, and God, again?
Christmas Pearl
Joe Gardner never expected to see Elizabeth again, not after the part she'd played in ruining his life. Refusing to believe she now shares his faith, Joe tosses aside her efforts to apologize.
But when they are forced to work together in the midst of the Christmas season, Joe has to face the truth about Elizabeth, and himself.
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