A week or so before my school left for Christmas break, the other first grade class along with my first grade class went on a field trip to a theater to watch a play on "A Christmas on the Little House on the Prairie". My students have been going crazy with the anticipation of Christmas, and that excitement combined with a field trip...well lets just say I was counting down the days to Christmas :) When we all finally arrived at the play it took a while to settle the students down, they were super excited and more talkative then ever because they were with the other first grade class. Once the play started they quieted down right away and were just sucked into the play. It was wonderful. The auditorium was filled with other schools as well as our class, so when it came to the intermission you can just imagine how loud it got. Everyone needed to use the restroom, and they were also very fascinated with how their folding seats could launch them a few inches into the air. I was trying my best to quiet them down; It was quite frustrating to get them to be quiet, and nothing seemed to work. I was giving all my teacher looks, using stickers, there was nothing that was going to work. They whole time that I am trying to get the students to be quiet, there was a student of mine (Christian) who was sitting next to me swaying back and forth and humming something. In the middle of trying to get everyone else to be quiet and sit down, Christian was singing. I asked him to stop a couple of times, but once I realized that I was not going to get any control over my students I said a quick prayer and just listened. I was some how able to tune out all the chaos and noise around me and all I heard was Christian singing, "Silent Night". It sent chills up my spine. I was so busy with getting my students to be obedient and to settle down, I almost missed the special moment I was given!
This really made me think about how God must feel; this season is filled with decorating, lights, busy shopping centers, presents, family, and friends, and all too often we are caught up with all of this that we forget about that silent night, when there were not any decorations, or lights, busy shopping centers, or friends. There was just a manger, a barn, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus....(oh yes, and animals). This is what Christmas is all about. God is really trying to get our attention, and we are so caught up with everything else we are not listening. Make sure you take the time to stop and tune out all the holiday rush and noise; take time to tune into what God is saying, and what really happened on that Silent Night. May you find your Christmas joy in Him!!
