Exposure to both the birth of Jesus and the innocence of small children can be emotionally unsettling. Whether or not science or psychology can or cannot explain it does not make it any less real. What is it about listening to preschoolers and early schoolers sing Christmas songs that moves the heart so? This morning Lily and I were fighting back tears as we sat in church and listened to the children sing. Lily turned to me and said, "It isn't Christmas until the children sing."

Despite all of the things we've done to distort the meaning of the birth of Christ, looking into those innocent faces and listening to them praise the Lord was encouraging and uplifting. There are advantages to getting older; observing more, listening more, feeling more. I cannot explain, even to myself, the understanding that comes from many years with Christ. I can only say I am grateful, and in that gratefulness is the knowledge that new life, and especially reconciled life, is a cause for celebration. Somehow bright twinkling lights and colorful trees seem appropriate when you're thanking God for new life.

My daughter-in-law let us know that her and my son decided it was time to tell our six year old granddaughter that Santa Claus is not real. They wanted to make sure there was no confusion between something masquerading as an angel of light and the light of the world. The one masquerading comes only for the good, but the light of the world comes for all. Our granddaughter took it very well. She told her mommy and daddy they should get presents for the children who did not have parents. They did just that and dropped them off at the Fire Station.

This morning our pastor asked the congregation a question. He asked if we noticed how the children on stage stared into the congregation looking for their parents. Once they saw their parents they smiled and waved. The cameras gave us wonderful close ups of what relationship is all about.

As adults we stare into a world where terrible things happen that we do not understand. Pick a night, any night, and watch the ten o'clock news. We hear bad news so often we risk becoming numb to the pain and suffering of others, until we walk those sad steps ourselves. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do bad things happen to children?

Shakespeare said we are actors on a stage. Like those children on that stage this morning, do we stare into the universe looking for our parent, or do we boldly say we have no parent? If you told my granddaughter you have no parent, than I know she'd want her Mom and Dad to get you a gift for Christmas.

That desire in the heart of my six year old granddaughter is the spirit of Christmas. That is why Jesus came to do the will of the Father. That is why Jesus came to die for you and me. He came that we might know how much we're loved, that we might look into the face of a child and know we've never been alone. That is why Lily turned to me and said, "It isn't Christmas until the children sing."