Tim Wildmon

AFA president

November-December 1998 – Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Yuletide carols being sung by a choir…

Oh, hello. You caught me singing. You know, Nat King Cole and I would have made an Unforgettable duo. He, the romantic crooner, and me, the definitive song stylist. When you got it, use it. Why are you laughing?

Actually, it’s Christmas music I love. Usually sometime in July I’ll pop in a CD or cassette of holiday songs. Sleigh bells ring are you listenin’, in the lane snow is glistenin’......la, de, da, da, la, de, da, da, walkin’ in a winter wonderland. The la, de, da’s come in handy when I forget the lyrics. Anyway, if I keep la, de, daing long enough, I simply segue into another tune.

Ah, yes, Thanksgiving and Christmas and the days in between. To many it’s The most wonderful time of the year…la, de, da.

Thanksgiving is unique to America. It’s our own celebration of God’s goodness and blessings. I wonder what the unbeliever does on Thanksgiving. Maybe eat traditional turkey and watch a football game. But to whom or what does he give thanks for the incredible blessings of over 250 years of freedom and bounty – blessings no other nation has ever known.

This fall my wife Alison and I visited Philadelphia. We saw the Liberty Bell and visited Independence Hall where our Founding Fathers met, forged a new government and risked their very lives by signing the Declaration of Independence. Their dream would become the United States of America, a representative republic if it survived the impending revolution. And that was a big “if.” There was little certainty that the colonies could prevail against the mighty Great Britain. But they put their faith in Almighty God and pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

Oh, for a little sacred honor today. The freedoms we enjoy can be traced to the faith and courage of those men who met at Independence Hall. As we left the building I told Alison that other than Calvary’s hill, which I have also had the great privilege to see, this building is arguably the most significant place in history – at least to Americans.

Christmas, of course, is celebrated around the world by Christians. We remember the birth of Jesus Christ – the Son of God. We all have family holiday traditions. On Christmas Eve my family gathers at my parents’ house and Dad reads both gospel accounts of the birth of Christ. I am always struck by the humble and earthly reality of the circumstances. “The Son of God born in a stable? A dirty, smelly barn? Why would God make it happen like this?” I’ve thought. But when you read the gospels you come to understand that Jesus’ entire earthly life was lived in humility and lowliness.

I believe one reason God did this was to demonstrate His love and concern for common people, those without great wealth or power. No doubt the Lord indeed loves the wealthy and the noble. However, He didn’t want His message of redemption confused with the message the world often gives that in order to be significant one has to be wealthy or powerful.

When I was a child my dad told me God cares as much about the ditch digger as He does about the President. I’ve never forgotten that. Each life has worth and value to the Creator. Christianity has nothing to do with our position in this world. What a great truth.

Now let me tell you about a tradition in the Wildmon family that only lasted one holiday. It was Christmas Eve about 10 years ago. We all gathered around the old, terribly out-of-tune piano to sing some seasonal songs. Let me just say that we were not a blessing to ourselves. We have no individual or collective musical talent whatsoever. Except me. I can sing. Why are you laughing again?

One of my sisters started banging on that poor piano. But for some reason, which had nothing to do with drinking eggnog, we started to “sing” that evening. After a song or two we tried Silent Night. We got to the part when you have to go way up – you know “sleep in heavenly peace.” Oh, my. It was ugly. And my sweet momma was the worst. I told her I loved her deeply, but that she needed to stick with cooking. In the kitchen mom has few peers.

OK, now for more of my distinctive song stylings. We three kings of Orient are, la de da we’ve traveled so far. La de da, la de da following yonder star.... What? Your laughter mocks me yet again. You really need to get in the Christmas spirit.