We have a Christmas tradition in my family that’s 20 years in the making. I love these types of traditions: the ones that I can trace them back to origination. I love remembering how they became a part of my family.
You see, growing up, I attended a private Christian school. Part of the curriculum at these schools is to memorize Bible passages. I remember being in 1st grade and we had these steno notebooks that we always wrote our homework in and would also staple a copy of that week’s memory verse. Now, being only 6 years old at the time, the passages were pretty short, usually a line or two. But I distinctly remember the passage we had to memorize right before Christmas break was a decent bit longer.
I can still see that card stapled in my notebook. It was a yellowish color and I believe had blue ink. The background was a shadowy picture of a baby in a manger. And on that card was a passage from the book of Luke. It was chapter 2, verses 8-16.
One tradition that goes back to before I was even born is the reading of the birth of Jesus before we get into all of the “Christmas” stuff. We’d all gather on the couch and listen as my dad told the story. We’d hear about dreams and angels, inn keepers and stables, shepherds and wise men. It was a great moment to stop before getting into all of the presents and other things that go on Christmas Day and remember was the day is really all about.
And that Christmas in 1992, I got to become a part of that tradition. Because I had learned those verses in school, when we got to that point in the story, I recited those words. And I have done so every year since. Today will be the 20th time I have pulled those verses out of storage in my mind and told my part of the real Christmas story. So now, I am sharing them with you…
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-16, KJV)
I hope we all remember the true meaning of this day.

Merry Christmas, from the Hugheses