The Saturday Journal: Waiting on Zion-A Christmas Story
Waiting on Zion is the story I wrote for our church's Christmas play last year--or I should say the foundation of the story. I've been blessed to write several of our Christmas plays but this one will always hold a special place in my heart. You see, those in my church who graciously volunteered to be in that year's program--they were encouraged to add their own personality to each character and each practice was filled with laughter and tears and many added lines. And on the night of the performance--I was like, that's not on the script and it's absolutely perfect! I praise God for giving me the story, Waiting on Zion and I thank Him for those who brought it to life. And maybe one day--hopefully, I can rewrite the story--remembering all the beauty of each person who braved the stage that December night in front of a small congregation and shared the love of Christ.
The clouds lift—raindrops fall quiet—gentle. And there’s a chill in the air—November is waving good-bye and the first day of December rings on the Sabbath.
“Good morning! It’s the first Lord’s Day in December!” Mrs. Rachel says to the children.
“And it’s almost Christmas!” Tyler yells while taking his familiar seat among the other kids in Sunday School class.
“Yes, let’s talk about Christmas. What does it mean? Christmas?” asks Mrs. Rachel.
“It’s Jesus’ birthday!” Taylor says.
“We give gifts and get gifts too!” Brian adds.
“Our families put up Christmas trees and decorate too!” says Ruthie.
Mrs. Rachel sits down in her chair in the center of the children and smiles, “Those are all good answers and very true. I like each one! I also have something exciting I want to share. We are going to do something really special this December. Our class will be visiting the rest home a few times over the month of December—sing a few Christmas carols—talk to the men and women who live there and hear their stories about Christmas too. And on our last visit the day before Christmas Eve, we will visit again and take them gifts.”
Now the children were a little curious about this “rest home”. This was a new term for them.
“What’s a rest home?” Brian asks.
Taylor raises her hand high, “Why do older people have to live there?”
“Does their families come and visit them?” asks Tyler.
Mrs. Rachel explains, “It’s mostly where elderly people live when they can no longer stay by themselves. Many have health problems, and it is better for them to stay in a senior facility where they can have nurses and people to take care of them. And Tyler, sadly, no. Some never have family or friends come to visit.
Ruthie waited until all the children asks their questions and then she said, “What will we talk about?”
“Oh, that’s a good question, Ruthie!” Mrs. Rachel says. “Ask them what Christmas was like as a child. What was their favorite part about Christmas as a child and what’s their favorite part now? And while you are asking these questions, you can get some ideas for their Christmas gifts. Ask them what they like to do—their favorite color.”
Taylor had one more question, “Will they be nice to us?”
“Of course,” Mrs. Rachel says with a laugh. “Some may be as nervous as you. And some may talk more than others. It will be so fun!”
And the children still weren’t convinced about this “so-called fun”. And they ask more questions.
“Can our parents go with us?”
“What if we don’t want to go?”
Mrs. Rachel stood and asked the children to come and bring their chairs--sit closer to her. “You know, sometimes it’s hard doing something we've never done before. We are all scared at times. We will pray about our fears and ask God to help us be a blessing. Now, let’s finish up our Christmas cards for them and think about your questions. Remember each of you will be paired up with one special person. Our first night to visit is this Tuesday!”
The children and their parents and Mrs. Rachel arrived at the Journey Home right on time. The girls, still a little frightened, lingered in the back while Tyler and Brian ran to the door to see who could be first to ring the doorbell.
“Good evening! Thank you all so much for coming! I’m Nurse Hazel. Our residents at Journey Home are so excited to see each of you! Come in! You can hang your coats over there next to the giant poinsettia.
“Now I understand from your teacher Mrs. Rachel that each of you will be paired up with one of our residents. This will be so much fun! And they will love meeting you and seeing the beautiful Christmas cards you’ve made.
“Tyler, I’m going to pair you with Mr. Roger. He likes to fish, and he loves candy. But don’t give him any. His sugar is way too high!
“Taylor, you will be with Mrs. Martha! Wait until you hear about her goat named Billy!
“Brian, your new friend is Mary. You’ll love her.
“Now Ruthie, let me see.”
Nurse Hazel looks around the room and Ruthie points to a man in a wheelchair.
“What about him?” Ruthie asks.
“Honey, Mr. Lewis won’t talk to you,” Nurse Hazel says. “He hasn’t talked in almost two years. He just sits there by the window and stares. It’s like he’s waiting on someone or something. He does have a special sign, and he gets upset if he doesn’t have it close by.”
“What does the sign say?” asks Ruthie.
“It says Waiting on Zion. He holds it up several times during the day for all of us to see and points it toward the window.”
Before Ruthie could ask more questions, Nurse Hazel placed her hands on Ruthie’s shoulders and said she could go over and sit with Mr. Lewis for a while. “I think he would like that.”
Ruthie walks over to Mr. Lewis and hands him the Christmas card she made. His hand trembles as he takes the card from her. Ruthie sits quietly on the floor and looks out the window wondering to herself—who is he waiting for?
Nurse Hazel turns to Ruthie’s Mama and says, “It’s a sad situation. His wife died two years ago. They were married for 65 years and his only daughter died when she was about your daughter’s age on Christmas Eve. His wife told me his heart never fully healed after the loss of their daughter. He does have two sons, and they are faithful to come and see him every week or so.”
“She didn’t want to come. She’s shy and gets scared easily around people she doesn’t know,” Ruthie’s Mama explains.
Nurse Hazel hugs Ruthie’s Mama and says, “Well then, maybe they will be good for each other.”
“It’s time to go,” Mrs. Rachel announces. “Let’s say good-bye to all our new friends and thank them for allowing us to visit. We’ll be back next Tuesday!”
The children were all laughs and smiles as they told Mrs. Rachel what a fun time, they all had—all but Ruthie.
“Children, thank you and your parents for coming tonight. I’ll see you in Sunday School—ten o’clock sharp!”
“Yes, mam!” Brian laughs.
Ruthie reaches for her Mama’s hand as they walk to the car. “Mama how am I supposed to be Mr. Lewis’ friend if he can’t talk. Do I just sit there and stare out the window with him?
“Sweetheart, sometimes people don’t need you to talk as much as they need you to be still and listen. And maybe the best way for you to be his friend right now is to sit with him in the quiet.”
“Happy Sabbath children! I can’t wait to hear all about your new friends you met at Journey Home. Let’s pray first before we start our stories.”
“I’ll go first!” Taylor says. “Miss Martha is my new friend. Before she moved to the Journey Home, she had three cats, and a goat named Billy. They live with her daughter now and she visits them when she can. For my gift I drew her a picture of her cats and goat.”
“I’m next!” Brian yells as he waves his hand in the air. “Mary is my new friend. She told me her Mama named her Mary because that was Jesus’ Mama’s name. She loves yellow roses and use to grow them in her garden. I colored her this picture of a yellow rose.”
“Me! Me!” Tyler shouts. “My new friend is Roger. He was named after Roger Maris who played for the New York Yankees. He likes baseball, racing, candy, and he likes to go fishing. Me and my dad bought him this tackle box and these cool worms!”
And Tyler, being his fun-loving self, couldn’t help but dangle the slimy worms in Taylor and Ruthie’s faces.
“Stop!” Taylor yells. “Those are gross!”
Taylor looks at Ruthie and says, “What about you, Ruthie? What’s your gift?”
“My friend is Mr. Lewis, and he doesn’t talk.”
“So how are you supposed to know what he likes or what to give him?” Brian asks.
“I don’t know but Mama said to give him something that I like so I’m going to play him a song. I like music.”
Mrs. Rachel was so happy. “These gifts are all wonderful and I know all of our new friends will be so happy to receive them. Remember, tell your parents we will be meeting here at church on Tuesday before going to Journey Home.
Nurse Hazel greets the children at the door giving all of them a big hug. “We have been looking forward to your visit all week!”
Mrs. Rachel asks Nurse Hazel, “Is it okay if Ruthie’s Mama reads the Christmas story to all of us before the children visit with their new friends and give them their gifts?”
“Oh, yes! We would love that!”
The residents and the children listened quietly as Ruthie’s Mama read Luke 2, the Christmas Story.
At the end of the story, Roger let out a loud “Amen”! and Miss Martha raised her hand in the air while Miss Mary shouted, “a story we will never grow tired of hearing!”
“Children, you can visit with your new friends and give them their gifts,” Mrs. Rachel said.
Carrying her cassette player, Ruthie walks over to Mr. Lewis—he’s still looking out the window, his back to everyone. She sits on the floor by Mr. Lewis and tells him she is going to play him a song. He looks at her and then she nervously pushes the start button and “Happy Birthday Jesus, Jesus, I love you” begins to play.
And what happened next—the whole room went quiet, and everyone’s eyes were on Mr. Lewis and Ruthie.
Weak and feeble, Mr. Lewis stands—his hands shaking and he reaches for Ruthie’s hands. She stands and he begins to shuffle his feet—this slow dance and he spun her—this happy twirl. Then Tyler, Brian and Taylor walked over to Mr. Lewis and Ruthie, and everyone joined hands—twirling—dancing—laughing.
Mr. Roger and the others could not believe what they were saying. “Well, I’ll be,” Mr. Rogers said rubbing his beard. Miss Martha shouted it is a Christmas miracle and Miss Mary, Nurse Hazel and Ruthie’s Mama—all they could do was cry.
The song ended and Mr. Lewis, trembling, sits back down in his wheelchair and motions for the nurse. “Please take me back to my room now.”
Nurse Hazel grabs Mr. Lewis’ blanket—still wiping tears. “Children, please don’t leave. I’ll be right back.”
Ruthie runs over to her Mama and hugs her.
Nurse Hazel comes back into the room, “Children, we are so thankful you came and visited with us over the Christmas season. For sharing your gifts with us and reading the Christmas Story. You were each a part of a Christmas miracle this evening!”
“Yes, I’m so proud of them—for sharing the love of Jesus,” Mrs. Rachel added. “What a blessing you have been to your new friends, and they have been a blessing to us! And Nurse Hazel, thank you for allowing us to visit. This certainly has been a special time and tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I love you all! Merry Christmas!”
The children all give Nurse Hazel and Mrs. Rachel and their new friends one last hug before leaving.
“Can we sit on the porch for a few minutes before we go?” Ruthie asks her Mama.
“Are you okay, Ruthie?”
“Yes, Mama. Can we come back tomorrow and visit Mr. Lewis on Christmas Eve, just you and me?”
“Sure, honey. I’m sure it will be fine for us to visit again. Do you want to stop by on the way home and get him a gift?”
“No, Mama. I just want to sit with him for a while. Maybe play him another song.
The next day, Ruthie and her Mama arrive at the rest home early and Nurse Hazel greets them at the door. And before Nurse Hazel could say more, Ruthie sees an empty wheelchair by the window where Mr. Lewis sits. She walks over to the wheelchair.
“Is that Mr. Lewis’ wheelchair? Where is he? Is he in his room? Can we go back and see him?”
Nurse Hazel looks at Ruthie’s Mama and then at Ruthie. “I’m sorry Ruthie. Mr. Lewis went to heaven early this morning.
Holding back her tears, Ruthie runs to her Mama's side.
“Ruthie, thank you for coming to see Mr. Lewis and being a special friend to him. He really loved you. He danced for you, and no one here has ever seen him dance like that before! The residents were coming up to me last night and saying, Nurse Hazel can you believe Mr. Lewis was dancing and talking?!
"You gave him the best gift. And he left a gift for you too,” handing a small envelope to Ruthie.
Ruthie opens the envelope and it’s a letter. “Mama, can you read it to me?”
My dearest Ruthie,
Today is Christmas Eve. And it was on a Christmas eve many years ago that my sweet little girl Lydia died. She was about your age when she went to live with Jesus. She had been very sick. I’ve not been worried about her because I know Jesus is taking good care of her. I have missed her though something terrible. But I know I will see her real soon, maybe today. She loved Jesus and Christmas was her favorite time of the year. And her favorite Christmas song–Happy Birthday Jesus. We used to dance to that song, just like you and me did. I’m looking forward to dancing with Lydia again. Hugging my wife too. Most of all I’m looking forward to seeing Jesus, our Savior. I’ve waited a long time it seems. But I know God gives us our days on this earth for a reason. Ruthie, you gave me the most wonderful gift this Christmas. Please tell all your friends thank you for coming and visiting with us old people. And Ruthie, please don’t stop coming and visiting.
Merry Christmas Ruthie.
Love,
Mr. Lewis
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psalm 2:6
For the Lord hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation.
This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
Psalm 132:13-14
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All photos @copyright Tathel Miller, unless otherwise credited to another photographer
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Psalm 90:9
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Oh what a beautiful story today! It never ceases to amaze me how God is working through your stories. I am looking forward to rereading your Christmas Devotional. Also, can’t wait for your new book!