Book Excerpt

I don't have anything original today.
What I have in an excerpt from a book I've been reading.
A book that will soon be reviewed right here on this blog.
In the meantime though, I wanted to share this excerpt because it just seemed so appropriate.

This comes from the book The Shelter of God's Promises by Sheila Walsh
She is referring to a story that Paul Harvey told on his radio show some years back called:

"The Man and the Birds"

It was Christmas Eve, and a man told his wife and children that he didn't intend to go to the midnight service with them.  He explained to them that the whole idea of God becoming a baby was just too much for him to believe, and he would rather stay home.  Not long after the family left, it began to snow.  As he watched out the window the snow flurries got heavier and heavier, so he settled into his armchair by the fire to keep warm.

A few minutes later he heard a thump on his window, then another and another.  Assuming that it was neighborhood children throwing snowballs at the window he peered outside, but what he saw surprised him.  He saw a flock of birds huddled together in the snow.  He realized that they must have been trying to evade the storm and, seeing the lights on in his house, flew into his window by mistake.  He knew that if he left them in the snow they would die, so he decided to open the door to the barn where his children kept their pony.  He wrapped up in warm clothes and boots and trudged through the snow, opened the barn door, and put the light on to draw their attention, but the birds wouldn't come.  He went back to the house and got some bread and left a trail from as close to the birds as he could get right up to the barn door, but still they wouldn't come.  He tried to catch them, but they were so afraid that they scattered in all directions.

It was clear to him that the birds were terrified of this large creature approaching them through the snow.  They didn't recognize him; they didn't trust him, and they didn't understand that he wanted to help them.  Every time he tried to touch them, they moved farther and farther away from help.

If only I could be a bird for a moment, he thought.  Then I could tell them not to be afraid and speak to them in their language.  Then I could show them the way to the safe, warm barn.  But I would have to be one of them so they could see and hear and understand.

Just then the church bells began to ring out--"Adeste Fideles."

Oh, come, all ye faithful, 

Joyful and triumphant!

Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold him

Born the king of angels:

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, 

Born this happy morning; 

Jesus, to thee be all glory given!

Word of the Father, 

Now in flesh appearing!

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

As the sound washed over him, he dropped to his knees in the snow.  Love had changed everything.

Now I know that this story is about Christ birth and this weekend we celebrate not his birth, but rather His resurrection.  

For some reason though, I was so moved when I read this today that I knew it needed to be shared.  

For how can someone who doesn't believe in Christ even comprehend how awesome a holiday Easter is.

Take a moment this weekend and remember to thank our Heavenly Father for the biggest sacrifice ever made.

I hope you all had a Blessed Saturday.