Why is it that we rarely appreciate what we have, until it is taken from
us by financial circumstances, natural disasters, or war?
It was
on November 30, 1939, my tenth birthday, that Russia attacked eastern
Finland. We said goodbye to my father, who was called to the front
lines, and we were evacuated from our homes to seek shelter away from
the war zone. We found the first roof over our heads in a farm cabin.
There were eleven of us, and room was made on the cabin floor for us to
lie down for the night. In a few days, some left for another place, but
some of us stayed with the family of five over Christmas until March,
when the Winter War was over. During that time, I became a candidate to
take in God's Word.
In Finland, Christmas Eve is the big day, but
the church was 10 kilometres away, and we had no warm clothes to wear in
the minus 40 degrees Celsius weather. In many respects, it was a day
like all the others. Everyone did their daily chores and the feeding of
the animals. Enemy planes flew low overhead and the sounds of war were
heard clearly in the far distance. Every cannon fired seemed to echo the
sound of death all around, yet I felt as if we were covered with a
divine shield that bounced the fear and noise away. I did not understand
what it all meant, but it had a lasting effect in developing my faith in
God. I knew God saw everything. It was as if we were enveloped in the
inner peace of the Prince of Peace.
I remember the farm woman
singing hymns, and I would hum with her until she handed me a hymnal and
asked me to sing Martin Luther's A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. I sat on
the window bench of the cabin singing, with everyone listening. That
hymn was instilled in my heart that war Christmas, and I have sung it
hundreds of times since in church services.
A mighty fortress is
our God,
A sword and shield victorious.
He breaks the cruel
oppressor's rod
And wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic
foe
Has sworn to work us woe!
With craft and dreadful might
He
arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.
No strength
of ours can match his might!
We would be lost, rejected.
But now a
champion comes to fight,
Whom God himself elected.
You ask who
this may be?
The Lord of hosts is he!
Christ Jesus, mighty Lord,
God's only Son, adored,
He holds the field victorious.
But of
course, on Christmas Eve, we had our traditional cleansing smoke sauna
before the simple supper, after which we sat around as one big family.
The sometimes static-y radio on a shelf on the wall was our well of
information. That evening, the church broadcast a special service.
Everyone had to be quiet from six until seven p.m. so that the war news
and the encouraging message from the president of the nation could be
heard. I was wondering if my dad was among the casualties that were
reported, as if his name would be especially mentioned.
After
that, a single candle was lit on the large wooden table. In thought, we
were at the manger as the father read the Christmas story from Luke's
gospel. A Saviour was born. A Son was given. Then he led in a deep bass
voice, "Silent night, holy night". It was a Christmas with no earthly
treasures but of heavenly riches that have lasted a lifetime.
It
has occurred to me that Paul writes a lot about Christians being in all
sorts of trouble, yet persevering through it all and building on hope in
Christ Jesus, who has said, "I will be with you always." And so, our
life in Christ gets built from ruins and loss of any kind even today.
Jesus Christ with us is the solid answer.
Prayer: Our heavenly
Father, You gave us Your Son, who would give His life as a sacrifice for
the sin-wrecked world for our sin. Enable us to receive Jesus and
conform our lives to His life. May this Christmas be the changing of
hearts and minds to the glory of God the Father. In Jesus name, we pray.
Amen.
Kirsti Sipila
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Thanks to Daily
Presbytarian
