It is the time of year when the holidays for some are the most lonely time of the whole year. Perhaps they have a family member or friend that the Lord called home well before his/her time. There will be one less at the table or gathering of family. Then there is the drug user where the use of drugs has dulled his ability to remember earlier, happier times in his life when he celebrated. For some, jail or prison may be the place of residence during the holiday season. Loneliness may be the result of losing a job and not knowing where the next dollar will be coming from. There are those who choose a way of life living on the streets; however, some have no choice and accept it as it is. Maybe the person will be celebrating Christmas alone with family living afar or worse yet, the family no longer gets along with each other. The lonely person asks if there will ever be a time when blood will flow through these hardened hearts and families will be together again. The following story puts into perspective the true meaning of Christmas in a way least expected by the grandmother.
Grandmother Bina Otten came from Germany. She was a plain woman. Most of the community didn’t know she existed in their midst, but Grandmother Bina was a silent disciple. Christmas was always His birthday and this truth made Christmas special to her. The Master was the center of her life. Some day he was coming to see her. Face to face with Jesus! What a wonderful moment that would be. Others told her she would have to wait. But deep within her heart, a voice without sound told her that He was coming. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it would happen at Christmastime? But she hid some of these thoughts within her heart. She would just be called an old fool.
Grandmother Bina always made Christmas bread which she shared with the neighbors. There was the old doctor who was destroying himself with a drug habit. There was Old Sam who lived alone. There was Benny who was handicapped and there was Bert who was in prison. Grandmother Bina never failed to bake for these people. One loaf she would keep for a special guest and his name was Jesus of Nazareth. If only He would come for Christmas. Advanced age told her that she would see Jesus one way or another soon!
It took two days to bake the bread. This year there was going to be a special ingredient within the bread for God was going to add His blessing. The five loaves were going to produce five miracles. But this, Grandmother didn’t know as she placed the bread into the oven. Her entire house would be filled with the delicious aroma of the baking bread.
People who passed the house while she was baking called the smell—the perfume of Heaven. There was something about it. They seemed to sense that this was a part of Christmas and their hearts were lifted by the Heavenly perfume.
Grandmother Bina put on her black coat with the fur collar on it. It was time to deliver the bread. The old doctor’s house was the first. Dr. Ted was once the most respected man in the community. Grandmother Bina remembered the man as he once was and with this image of him in her mind, she left the loaf of bread at his doorstep. Dr. Ted came home. His body was craving the shot that would give him bliss for a few hours and hell on earth again. Dr. Ted saw the loaf on the doorstep and he thought, “That precious soul. Grandmother Bina remembered and baked again.” The fresh bread made him recall his mother. What had become of her son? With this thought in his mind, he put away the needle and he cut off a slice of the bread instead. As he ate of the bread, something happened. Dr. Ted was transformed. He washed the dope down the drain and broke the needle in two and tossed it out of the window. It was truly Christmas for Dr. Ted.
Old Sam also found the bread on his doorstep where Grandmother Bina had left it. “That foolish woman. More of that hardtack!” But Old Sam was hungry. He cut off a slice of the bread and suddenly he recalled how he and his father would go out in the field looking for a tree. He looked at the empty rooms of his house and suddenly wanted a Christmas tree. He wanted to share the money he hoarded down through the years. Sam didn’t know it, but Christmas had come to his lonely, hardened heart, and Christmas would stay forever.
Grandmother Bina left her bread in Benny’s hand with a silent wish that he would walk. Benny felt the urge to walk. He lowered the footrest of his chair and seconds later, he shouted to his mother, “I can walk! I can walk!” Christmas had come to Benny.
Bert Wilson had one visitor a year while he was in prison and that visitor was Grandmother Bina. She brought him the bread and wished that he was free. Later Bert ate a slice of the bread. The guard turned the key to his cell. “The warden wants to see you,” said the guard. Bert was led to the Warden’s office and the Warden took his hand and said, “Bert, your parole just came through. You are a free man.” And thus, Christmas came to Bert Wilson.
On Christmas Eve, Grandmother Bina was alone. She was going to sit up until twelve o’clock so that she could wish her Lord a happy birthday. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. A young man stood there. His clothing needed repairing and there were no shoes on his feet. Grandmother Bina kept still. This boy was a regular hippie. “Little Mother, I am hungry,” the hippie said.
The only thing left in the house was the loaf of bread Grandmother Bina was saving for Jesus. But she didn’t hesitate. She placed the loaf on the table. As he took the bread in his hands, Grandmother Bina’s eyes were opened. Face to face it was Jesus. He had come and with Him came Christmas.