A Special Christmas Moment
I was about ten years old when I
walked the aisle of my church ---
Mt. Herman Baptist Church in Cleveland,
Ohio ---
singing "O Holy Night."
This Christmas moment was to be
a life-changing experience for me.
I was dressed in a white robe, wore
no shoes,
had curly ponytails with white ribbons,
and held a small microphone.
I remember standing behind the closed
doors of the sanctuary
waiting for my cue to enter.
I was so nervous,
but I desperately wanted to share
my love for Jesus with the congregation.
Suddenly I heard the music begin
to the familiar tune
that tells the story of that holy
night when Jesus was born.
The doors swung open, and I gingerly
walked in to the beat of the music. Halfway down the aisle, I paused and
began to sing the first verse.
The "oohs" and "ahs" from the congregation
revealed their pleasure and approval
of my rendition
and displayed the effect it was
having on their hearts.
Then something completely unexpected
happened.
I felt myself leaving the sanctuary
of our church!
Suddenly I was transported back
to that holy night when Jesus was born.
I heard angels singing and I saw
the manger.
And in the manger, there was the
baby Jesus!
My knees buckled and I felt myself
slowly slumping to the floor
in awe of this holy child.
I could hear the words of the song's
chorus flowing from my lips as I sang,
"Fall on your knees, Oh hear the
angels voices, O' night divine."
I was overwhelmed by this awesome
moment
as the reality of Christmas flooded
my being.
I sang my best for this child, who
was my Lord and King.
Years later I returned to Cleveland
to visit some relatives.
I ran into a few ladies who were
at the Christmas service that night.
On seeing me,
they began to reminisce with excitement
about my performance.
One dear saint turned to her friends
and said,
"I'll never forget the Christmas
when this child sang 'O Holy Night.'
When she fell to her knees and worshiped
the King,
I tell you, there wasn't a dry eye
in the place."
I'm forty-something now, and today
I still give my best for Him.
He's still my Savior and King.
But I'll never forget that special
Christmas service
when I actually knelt before Him
and sang in His very presence.
Madeline Manning Mims
Named one of America's Outstanding
Young Women,
Dr. Madeline Manning Mims is the
only American woman
to win an Olympic gold medal in
track for the 800-meter run.
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