St Nicholas

Mary’s Monday Musing to Quilt Encouragement

St Nicholas

We had fun this month participating in a charming custom that goes back to the fourth century. Saint Nicholas was a generous bishop in the church way back then. He had a great heart for children, the poor, the ill, and sailors. His generous giving is still celebrated in Germany and the Netherlands with the tradition of leaving a shoe at the door with the hope St Nicholas will leave, candy, small gifts or even some coins. This tradition was established around the date of the Bishop’s death, December 6th the year of 343 AD. December 5th, children leave a shoe by the door with hopes to find it filled with candy or small gifts.

After a notice to put out a shoe because St Nicholas was coming, we each left a shoe out in front of our apartment. It was fun to walk down the halls and see the types and sizes of shoes and a few hopeful boots. Sure enough, cookies and candy were our reward and a great boost to our spirits in the midst of our pandemic Christmas season when gathering together is discouraged.

But the real reason for rejoicing in this Christmas season is not because someone might fill our shoe, stocking or Christmas tree with some treats. What lifts our spirits, regardless of what trials we encounter in this life, is the privilege to celebrate that our Savoir, Jesus Christ, was born on this corrupt earth in the form of human flesh. He lived in the flesh, knowing the temptations and trials of life on Earth. In His love for humankind, He laid down His life that we might have access to God. Because of Him, we are able to exchange our failures and our cares for the assurance we can draw close to our marvelous Savoir, rest secure in His love, and live in His presence forever.