Description

How Did You Know

Christmas Eve morning dawned bright and clear. The excitement in the McLachlan household was two-fold. First, Mary and Johnny were anxious for Santa to come, and also, today was the day that Daddy would be coming home. He had been gone for many days, but when he left, he had promised that he would be home for Christmas. Brother McLachlan has been forced to go into hiding because he had been asked by the brethren to practice polygamy, which was against the law.

As the morning wore on, Sister McLachlan began to worry. There was no sign of her husband, and she realized that if he didn’t get home soon, there would not be time to get into town for the children to visit Santa. Johnny planned to ask Santa for a sleight to ride down the hill behind their house. Mary wanted a doll with real hair, one that could open and shut her eyes.

To pass the time, Sister McLachlan suggested that they go out on the hill and cut a Christmas tree. It wouldn’t be a Christmas tree like we have today, as there were no pine trees in the area. They cut a little cedar tree and dragged it back to the house. It was sparse and the branches were bare, but the children excitedly strung popcorn and made paper chains to decorate it. To them, it was the most beautiful tree in the world. As they decorated the tree the children talked excitedly about what they wanted from Santa. Their mother told them that maybe Santa wouldn’t find them this year, as they hadn’t been able to go to town and tell him what they wanted. But they assured her that he would find them, and not to worry. She was heart-broken, thinking of their disappointment on Christmas, when they realized Santa hadn’t come.

Tearfully, she went into the other room, got down on her knees and prayed to the Lord, asking for His help. She poured out her heart to Him, reminding Him that her husband hadn’t been home for a long time, and that they hadn’t been able to go to town to make the proper preparations for Christmas. When she finished her prayer, she tried to busy herself by preparing dinner. The food in the house was nearly gone. She made some bread and milk, and opened a jar of fruit that she had been saving.

After dinner, Johnny and Mary got ready for bed, hung their Christmas stockings and said their prayers. In their prayers they asked that their Daddy would make it home safely in time for Christmas, and that Santa would be sure to find them. Then they both jumped into bed, with all the excitement and anticipation of any child on Christmas Eve.

Sister McLachlan realized that she had to have something for her children on Christmas morning. She got two items that she had secretly been working on the last few days out of her sewing box. A sock doll for Mary, and a rag ball for Johnny. She was so sad as she sewed the button eyes and yarn hair on the doll, remembering that Mary wanted a doll with real hair and eyes that opened and closed. Somehow she hoped the rag ball would bring some pleasure to her son. She hoped that her children wouldn’t be too disappointed with her meager gifts. She had saved some nuts and two oranges, which she put in the toes of their Christmas socks. Then she tearfully and lovingly placed the doll in Mary’s sock and the ball in Johnny’s.

All of a sudden she heard a knock at the door. This frightened her because Indians were known to be in the area. She had no food to give them, and she didn’t know what they would do to her and her children if she couldn’t give them what they wanted. The knock came again, only this time is was louder! Her heart was beating wildly as she tried to decide what to do. Then she heard someone call her name.

“Sister McLachlan, Sister McLachlan, are you in there? It is Brother Bawden.”

With great relief, she ran to open the door for her neighbor. There stood Brother Bawden, holding a bag full of Christmas goodies. Food that would make a feast fit for a king. He was also holding a doll that had real hair, her eyes opening and closing as he juggled the packages he was holding. She looked down, and on the porch by his feet was a sleigh. She could hardly believe her eyes.

“How did you know? How did you know?” was all that she could say.

Brother Bawden explained that earlier that day, while he was preparing to milk his cows, he had a feeling that she needed help.

“It was like a voice said to me, Sister McLachlan needs you. The feeling was so strong that I came over right away. As I approached your door, and was about to knock, I heard the children talking excitedly about what they wanted from Santa. I realized that because Brother McLachlan was not home, that I had to get the message to Santa. Anyway, Santa asked me to make this delivery for him.”

Sister McLachlan didn’t know what to say. She was so grateful to Brother Bawden. The only thing she could do was throw her arms around him and cry. How thankful she was for a good neighbor who listened when the Spirit spoke, and to a loving Heavenly Father who heard and answered her humble prayer.

The next morning when the children woke up, their squeals of excitement would warm any heart. They knew that Santa would come! After all, they had asked Heavenly Father to help Santa find them, and there was no doubt in their minds, but what their prayers be would be answered.

Their day was made perfect, when, as they were sitting down to breakfast, they heard someone on the porch knocking snow off of his boots. Squeals of laughter and delight could be heard as the door opened and there stood their father. He had made it home for Christmas after all!

Source:

Susan Jordan