I heard Paul Harvey on the radio share a story that made a lasting impression on me. Many years later, I searched high and low for it as it was so poignant and I wanted to share it with others. But I could not find it anywhere. Disappointed, I decided to write down this story based on his broadcast, to bring it back to life for me and others. Please enjoy and if you ever find the original, please let me know. Merry Christmas! Diane Krentel Hodge
A Barn Christmas by Diane Krentel Hodge
It was Christmas Eve. Joe poked at the sparkling fire before settling once again in his overstuffed chair. Upstairs he heard the children scurrying here and there in preparation for the annual Candlelight Service at the town church. He could hear the click of his wife's high heels accentuating each of her hurried steps. The sharp wind played a cold harmony outside.
"Much too cold to be making such a fuss this evening!" he thought, as he cushioned himself further down in his soft armchair.
"The whole idea of celebrating Christmas was incredible anyway!” Didn't make sense to a hard-working farmer like him!
“Ridiculous, when you really ponder the whole story! God incarnate! How could anyone really believe that God’s Son would visit planet Earth? And for heaven sakes, why? “ Joe mused.
“Come on Dad, won't you please come with us…. just this time? “
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by his saucy youngest daughter dressed in a bright red velvet dress.
He mumbled a low excuse and reached for the paper on the floor with much purported urgency. His wife came into the room wearing her best Sunday coat with a longing plea in her eyes, aimed right at Joe. Reluctant goodbyes were said and the back door swung closed as the family left with a great gust of frigid air.
Joe heard the car crunching over the snow packed driveway. "Preposterous! "He thought again, "Going out on a night like this for any reason! “
The wind blew in seeming agreement, gusting down the chimney. Joe watched the sparks burst in response.
Looking out the large picture window, Joe could see the barn doors banging open and close in rebellious motion to the whirlwind outside. He grumbled an inaudible response and settled down to peace, alone with the sports section and the warm fireplace.
An uneventful half hour or more slipped by before Joe was interrupted by a sudden rap on the large picture window. He looked up briefly wondering at the oddity of the sound and the impact that the object had on the large glossy window. The wind whirled in proud delight at its own strength!
Perplexed, he returned to his respite, only to hear more thumps, but this time in a more rapid succession. Jumping up to take a closer look, he saw the shadows of tiny sparrows lying directly beneath the window, gravely wounded and fluttering in the snow in distress. Other sparrows swept down in frantic attempts to help, flying wildly close to the window.
Watching the sad, urgent scene, Joe realized that the panicked birds were blindly groping for a safe haven of warmth and protection. He knew if he didn't do something fast, many of the sparrows would foolishly waste their lives striving to enter warmth through the cold, unforgiving window.
Outside Joe heard again the clatter of the barn doors and suddenly had an idea. Quickly he turned out all the lights in the living room . Donning his large winter coat, he went out the back door, scrambling his way towards the empty old barn. With his great strength, he propped opened the two rattling barn doors. In the bitter cold dark, he fumbled for the light switch eagerly and the barn lit up in the cold night sky.
Standing in the brightened doorway, Joe began to flap his arms fiercely, trying to motion the wearied birds towards the opening. The more noise and movement he made, the more confused and scattered the dying birds appeared. Joe was beside himself, as more birds fell to the snow in exhaustion. Desperately Joe beckoned time and again to no avail. When he reached the ebb of frustration, he sighed loudly, "If I only I were a bird, then I could tell them which way to go! “
No sooner had he uttered those insightful words, the church bells rang out clearly “Joy to the World” in the wintry sky. Joe suddenly fell to his knees in humility, understanding for the first time the miraculous meaning of why Christ had to come to earth. His heart surged within him.
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for He has visited us to shine upon those who sit in darkness to guide our feet into the way of peace!” Luke 1:79
By Diane Krentel Hodge
