By Valerie Fritchie
During the Christmas season when I was a little girl around 2 years of age, my Aunt Nadene and I sat down in her living room together and watched the Shirley Temple version of “Heidi,” which is based on the writings of Swiss novelist Johanna Spyri. The movie ends with Heidi praying, “And please make every little boy and girl in the world as happy as I am. Amen.”
When the movie was over, I looked at my Aunt Nadene, gave her a big hug and asked, “Aunt Nadene, do you know why I’m the happiest little girl in the world? She said, “Why, Rosie?” I replied, “Because you love me!”
I was so little, but I spoke well. Aunt Nadene was so touched by this that she started an annual tradition of watching Heidi together. Every year when it’s over, I repeat that line. This year will be our 48th year, missing only one when I was away for college. When I was little, we watched every part of the movie from beginning to end. As I grew older, we mostly just talked throughout the movie and told each other everything that happened in the last year.
There is one part, however, besides the ending, that catches our attention every time. “The Grandfather” (that is what Heidi calls him) is teaching Heidi her Sunday school lesson. Heidi opens the Bible and begins to read. Some of the words are too hard, and Heidi gets frustrated. She says to the Grandfather, “These are pretty hard words. Perhaps you’d better help me.”
The Grandfather begins to read. Heidi is listening and following along. The Grandfather is telling the story of the prodigal son. Heidi looks up and realizes that the Grandfather is not even looking at the Bible. She goes over to him, stares up into his eyes, touches him on the chest and says, “You know this story by heart.” The Grandfather replies, “Yes, by heart.’”
This is a beautiful and touching moment in the movie. You see, the Grandfather has lived the prodigal son story in his life when his own son takes his inheritance and leaves. His son marries and has a daughter but is then killed tragically before making amends with his father. Because of this, the Grandfather cuts himself off from the world. He has a lot of built-up anger.
In this moment, you can actually see God doing a work in him and softening his heart. Who would have thought that a little child would enter this old, angry, and isolated man’s world and turn his life upside down and inside out, and bring life to his deadened heart? Not only did God send Heidi to open the Grandfather’s heart up to love, but God used this little child so that the Grandfather could believe in God again. Sound familiar?
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“God sent His Child to enter this angry, and isolated, messed-up world, turn it upside down and inside out, and bring life to all the deadened hearts.”
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Story and Song
The well-known story of Jesus’ birth is told in the books of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament. We learn about Mary and Joseph in the stable, the angel, the wisemen, the shepherds, and the star. We read about Jesus being born to be our Savior and then skip forward to when He is 12 years old.
How often do you stop to think that Jesus was an ordinary baby? A baby! There are so many Christmas songs that tell of Jesus’ birth. I can think of three right off the bat: “Away in a Manger” talks about Jesus not having a crib. “Silent Night” tells us of the holy infant, so tender and mild. “Go Tell it on the Mountain” says Jesus Christ is born.
We so mindlessly sing these songs. They are near and dear to our hearts, yet we barely realize what we are singing about. God sent His Child to enter this angry, and isolated, messed-up world, turn it upside down and inside out, and bring life to all the deadened hearts, giving all the world a reason to believe in God.
Wow! Was He just an ordinary baby? I bet Mary did know without a shadow of a doubt that her baby boy would one day rule the nations!
The Little Light Burns
As we enter this Christmas season, let us focus on the details of the Christmas story. It is not only the greatest story ever told, but it is the story of the birth of a baby!
In a different version of Heidi, she climbs a mountain in the snow with her friend, “Goat Peter.” The snow starts to come down harder, and they have to seek shelter. Heidi quickly pulls out a candle and lights it. She tells Goat Peter a little poem she memorized when she was younger: “Advent, Advent, the little light burns. First one, then two, then three, then four, next the Christ Child at the door.”
I had no idea that Advent was even a thing until I watched this movie. Out of curiosity, I had to look it up.
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“You may have been born an ordinary baby, but with an extraordinary purpose!”
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Extraordinary Arrival
Advent literally means the arrival of a notable person. The four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day are included in the season of Advent. Each Sunday, we light a different candle — one for hope, peace, joy, and love — and the center candle is for the birth of Jesus. How appropriate is it that Jesus is the center of hope, peace, joy, and love? After all, would any of these things even exist without Him?
This year, during this most blessed season, I challenge you to look deeply into your own life. Were you just an ordinary baby? I think not! You were created in the image of God; were you not? You may have been born an ordinary baby, but with an extraordinary purpose!
Go back to your childhood roots, and use the childlike qualities with which you were born. Allow God to help you bring life to your deadened heart and enable you to believe that Jesus is the reason for the season! I am able to wish you a merry Christmas because He lives!
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Valerie Fritchie is a Wabash/New South Conference ministerial candidate serving at Mars Hill Free Methodist Church in Indianapolis. Fritchie and her family have attended Mars Hill FMC for 20 years. She has been a Christian since age 5 when she also chose to be baptized. She and her husband, Michael, will be celebrating their 27th anniversary this month, and they have three amazing young adult children who are serving their country. She has a master’s degree in language education and has been teaching for 19 years. One of her greatest accomplishments is publishing a children’s book, “Promise Me We Will Dance in the Rain.” She sums up her life with one word: blessed.
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