Chapter 8
CHAPTER VIII. THE ANGEL WITH SILVER WINGS It was Christmas Eve in heaven. The angels had just finished preparing for the king's birthday, and they were waiting for the great feast, waiting for the time when they would play their music and sing
their songs. Now an angel with silver wings stood close to the throne of God. I wonder what Christmas means to the people on earth, said the angel to some of his friends. Almighty God heard the angel and called the angel aside. You were wondering what Christmas means to the people on earth, said God to the angel
with silver wings. Christmas means many things to the people on earth. Many people have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas. The angel was surprised, and God knew that the angel was disturbed. I want you to go down to earth, said God to the angel.
I want you to find something for me. Of course, the angel didn't like the idea of leaving heaven on Christmas Eve, but he agreed to go. And what do you think God wanted the angel to do? God wanted the angel to find one person on earth who knew the real meaning of Christmas.
It was a cold night to leave heaven, but the angel with silver wings flew quickly, and in a short time he was down on earth. He went directly to the city of Chicago, because the angel felt that there he would find someone who knew the meaning of Christmas. Of course, no one saw the angel, but as he hurried along, the angel saw many people.
Some looked tired and others looked very happy. Merry Christmas, they called to one another, and the angel smiled. The angel stopped to listen to children playing in the streets. He went to their homes. He felt that some child might know the meaning of Christmas.
Finally, the angel found a boy, a boy by the name of Frank Murphy. Frank was happy because he had received so many fine presents, a bicycle, an electric train, a football, money, and some books. No wonder Frank was happy and excited. In the midst of his excitement, the angel heard Frank say,
I like Christmas because Christmas means lots of presents. The angel was disappointed. He wrote in his little book the name of Frank Murphy and what Christmas meant to the little boy. To Frank Murphy, Christmas meant lots of presents.
Then the angel went to a large store. The store was closed and the clerks had gone home. But the angel found the owner of the store sitting in his office. And what do you suppose the owner of the store was doing? He was counting his money.
The owner smiled as he counted thousands of dollars. And when he finished, the owner spoke aloud. Business was good this year. I made more money this Christmas than I did last year. The angel heard the man and he wrote the man's name in his little book.
To the owner of the store, Christmas meant money, lots of money. Once again, the angel was disappointed. But the angel didn't give up his search. Oh no, he was determined to find someone who knew the real meaning of Christmas. And what do you think?
The angel met a little girl carrying a basket. So the angel followed the child up a narrow stairs, down a long hall, and into a room. A blind lady sat in the corner. Here are some cookies, said the girl to the blind lady. Mother said that I must be kind at Christmas.
The angel didn't wait to hear any more. To the girl with the basket, Christmas meant being kind to others. It was almost midnight and the angel with silver wings hadn't yet found anyone who knew the real meaning of Christmas. The angel was tired and sad.
Should he give up his search and go back to heaven? No, the angel decided to remain on earth. He felt sure that he would meet someone who knew the real meaning of Christmas. The angel hurried along and finally he came to a church. He entered the church and found a seat near the door.
Oh the church was beautiful with its flowers and lights. It was almost like heaven. Now the angel was happy. He was happy because he was in God's house. Once again the angel was close to God.
The mass began and the choir sang. Then the priest turned to speak to the people. And what did the priest say? In simple words, the priest told the world's greatest love story. The story of how Christ was born.
The story of Bethlehem. The priest told how Jesus left his home in heaven and was born in a stable. He told about the shepherds who visited Jesus and he told about the three kings. God became man on that first Christmas night, said the priest, because he loves us. God came on earth to be near us, to show us the way to heaven.
God came to teach us how to suffer. God came to die for us. When the angel heard the priest's words, he smiled. At last the angel had found someone who knew the real meaning of Christmas. When the mass was over, the angel hurried from the church and flew back to heaven.
The angel with silver wings told God everything that happened. He told God about Frank Murphy. He told about the man in the store. He told about the girl with the basket. When the angel told God about the priest, do you know what God did?
God wrote the name of that priest with letters of gold in his great big book. The priest knew the real meaning of Christmas. Children, I think that by now you too know the real meaning of Christmas. God left heaven and became man on Christmas day. He was born in a stable.
His foster father was Joseph and his mother was Mary. God came on earth to suffer, to die on a cross, to open for us the gates of heaven. That children is the real meaning of Christmas. End of chapter 8
