Christmas Miracles

Two stories worth reading . . . the first is about the lovely Christmas Carol: Silent Night!

"When this beloved hymn was written by two humble church leaders for their own mountain village parishioners, little did they realize how universal its influence would eventually be. Joseph Mohr, assistant priest in the Church of St. Nicholas in the region of Tyrol, high in the beautiful Alps, and Franz Gruber, the village schoolmaster and church organist, had often talked about the fact that the perfect Christmas hymn had never been written. So Father Mohr had this goal in mind when he received word that the church organ would not function. He decided that he must write his own Christmas hymn immediately in order to have music for the special Christmas Eve mass. He did not want to disappoint his faithful flock. Upon completing the text, he took his words to Franz Gruber, who exclaimed when he saw them, 'Father Mohr, you have found it--the right song--God be praised!'

"Soon Gruber completed his task of composing an appropriate tune for the new text. His simple but beautiful music blended perfectly with the spirit of Father Mohr's words. The carol was completed in time for the Christmas Eve mass, and Father Mohr and Franz Gruber sang their new hymn to the accompaniment of Gruber's guitar. The hymn made a deep impact upon the parishioners even as it has on succeeding generations.

"When the organ repairman came to the little village church, he was impressed by a copy of the Christmas carol and decided to spread it all around the region of Tyrol. Today it is sung, in all major languages of the world and is a favorite wherever songs of the Christmas message are enjoyed."                                                                                               Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace

 The second story is from Streams in the Desert, Volume 2, by Mrs. Charles, E. Cowman:

"It was Christmas Eve, 1875, Ira D. Sankey was traveling by steamboat up the Delaware River. It was a calm, starlit evening, and there were many passengers gathered on deck. Mr. Sankey was asked to sing. He stood leaning against one of the great funnels of the boat, and his eyes were raised to the starry heavens in quiet prayer. It was his intention to sing a Christmas song, but he was driven almost against his will to sing 'Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us.'

"There was a deep stillness. Words and melody, welling forth from the singer's soul, floated out over the deck and the quiet river. Every heart was touched.

"After the song was ended, a man with a rouch, weather beaten face came up to Mr. Sankey and said, 'Did you ever serve in the Union army.' 'Yes,' answered Mr. Sankey, 'in the spring of 1860.' 'Can you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright, moonlit night in 1862?' 'Yes,' answered Mr. Sankey, very much surprised.

"'So did I,' said the stranger, 'but I was serving in the Confederate army. When I saw you standing at your post I said to myself, 'That fellow will never get away from here alive.' I raised my musket and took aim. I was standing in the shadow, completely concealed, while the full light of the moon was falling upon you. At that instant, just as a moment ago, you raised your eyes to heaven and began to sing. Music, especially song, has always had a wonderful power over me, and I took my finger off the trigger.

"'Let him sing his song to the end,' I said to myself. 'I can shoot him afterwards. He's  my victim at all events, and my bullet cannot miss him.' But the song you sang then was the song you sang just now. I heard the words perfectly: 'We are Thine. do Thou befriend us, Be the guardian of our way.'

"'When you finished your song it was impossible for me to take aim at you again. I thought, 'The Lord, who is able to save that man from certain death, must surely be great and mighty.' and my arm of its own accord dropped limp at my side.

''Since that time I have wandered about, far and wide, but when I just now saw you standing there praying as on that other occasion, I recognized you. then my heart was wounded by your song. Now I ask that you help me find a cure for my sick soul.'

"Deeply moved, Mr. Sankey threw his arms about the man who in the days of the war had been his enemy. And that night the stranger found the Good Shepherd as his Savior."

 

I almost didn't see that deer.

Miracles of Christmas never cease. May you find your own Christmas miracle this year.