Have you been to any Christmas parties yet this season? Fran and Louise have decided to have a different party this year. Instead of inviting their Christian friends from church, they’ve invited all their friends at the office, most of whom are not Christians.

Fran gets up early this Saturday morning, knowing she has lots to do to get ready for the party tonight. Louise comes over later in the morning to help. She’s been cooking all week to have everything ready, and the kids are excited to help, too.

About mid-afternoon, Fran says, “Hey, you guys, we need to practice our Christmas play.” They decided after everyone eats and they have some fun games, the four of them will re-enact the Christmas story. Fran brought costumes home from church, Louise made a manger, Alice put her best doll in the manger, and Drew made cardboard cut outs of a sheep and a cow.

The evening goes really nice. Fran is so pleased that twenty-three people came, including Janice and her husband, George. She whispered to Fran, “I’d never get him to church, but he’s always ready for a party!” George says he is an atheist.

Everybody seems to be having a great time; there’s lots of laughter and clean fun. Finally, it’s time for the play. Louise says, “Well, since this is a Christmas party, we wanted to have something special—a Christmas play, with the help of Drew and Alice.”

At first people seem a little uncomfortable, but as Louise and Fran get the manger in place, everyone finds a seat so they can watch. Alice is an angel, and she quotes from Luke 2: Behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy. She looks like an angel, and everyone applauds when she finishes. Children can break down barriers between people very easily, Fran notes to herself.

They go through their prepared play, telling the story of Christmas. Drew is a shepherd, and Fran and Louise play Mary and Joseph. Then the kids sing a Christmas song they learned at church, which tells why Jesus came to a manger.

As it ends, there’s not a sound in the house, and not a few are dabbing tears away. Louise says, “Well, we just wanted to share with you what Christmas means to us. You know, lots of people are celebrating Christmas but they don’t really know Jesus. I’m so glad that when I was sixteen years old, I found out who Jesus is, and he became my Savior.”

And without embarrassment, Louise shares her testimony and then leads in a prayer at the end of their party. Let’s take back Christmas and find better ways to celebrate it.

Fran and Jesus on the Job: Christmas – 4