A Christmas To Remember
By: Andrew and Susanna Little
Characters
Everett Greene
Audrey Greene
Daughter Tiffany Greene
John Wilson
Ruth Wilson
Son Aaron Wilson
Son Jake Wilson
Son Luke Wilson
Introduction
John: Hey folks! I'm John Wilson, and I just wanted to tell you a little bit about the program you're getting ready to watch. Christmas has always been my favorite time of year, but a few years ago, we had a Christmas that we will never forget. We wanted to share that memory with you and let you see just how special this holiday can be when you show someone the true meaning of Christmas. We hope you enjoy it!
Scene 1
Everett, Audrey, and Tiffany enter; bundled in dressy winter coats. Everett and Audrey are fussing at each other.
Audrey: How did you NOT see that??
Everett: Well excuse me for not being used to deer crossing the road!
Audrey: So what if you're not used to it, you still should have been able to stop!
Everett: Are you kidding me?? With that much ice on the highway?? Apparently the people down here don't even bother to scrape the roads...
Audrey: All I'm saying is that surely there was another way to avoid a wreck besides careening us down into the ditch!
Everett: All you're saying is that it's my fault, when we both know it's not!
John and Luke walk up, dressed in jeans and worn coats.
John: Hey, folks! I thought I heard somebody out here. Anything we can help you with?
Everett: Yes! Our car is stuck in the ditch a little ways up the road. We can't get a cell phone signal to look up a towing company.
John: (laughing) Oh no, you won't get any signal out here. Not that it would make much difference, there's only one guy with a tow truck in the whole town, and he won't be back until after the New Year. Where exactly is your car? On this side of Jefferson Creek?
Everett: Umm, if you're talking about the creek a half mile back, no, it's just on the other side of the bridge. A deer ran across the road, and when I swerved to miss it, we hydroplaned and went in the ditch about 10 yards before the bridge.
John: Ohhh... well, I'm sorry, but it looks like you're just out of luck. That's about the worst place to get stuck right now... my tractor won't make it over that one-lane bridge and nobody on the other side would be able to help either, on account that the road washed out two miles above there, and when they fixed it, they didn't make it wide enough for a tractor to drive on. Looks like you'll be staying here a while. You're welcome to stay with us though, we've got more than enough room!
Everett: Oh, no no no, we won't be staying. We are on our way to visit my parents in Florida for Christmas.
Audrey: Yes, thank you for the offer, but we REALLY won't need that. Could we just use your house phone to call a taxi please?
John: (laughing) A taxi? M'am, we ain't got no taxi service out here.
Tiffany: Seriously? How do you not have taxis??
Audrey: (sighs) Um ok, what about the nearest bus station, train station, airport??
John: Hmm... well, there's no airport around, but there IS a bus station in Walkertown, about 45 miles east of here... you won't be able to get there though.
Audrey, Everett, and Tiffany: Why not??
John: The highway's been closed since the last blizzard came in. Whole town is snowed in, nobody can get in or out. Listen folks, I'm real sorry, but you ain't gonna be able to go anywhere till this weather clears up, which may not be till next week. But like I said, you're welcome to stay with us.
Audrey: Next weekend is Christmas!
John: Yeah, I know, but maybe if some of this snow settles down, you can get to the bus station and make it to a town with an airport. You might can still make it to your folks' for Christmas! Just give it a few days.
Audrey: (pulling Everett aside) I am NOT staying with complete strangers! Do something!
Everett: What do you expect me to do?!
Audrey: I don't care! Call somebody! Call Jan!
Everett: Right, cause my assistant in New York will be able to fix this?? Listen, I don't think we have a choice here. This seems to be our only option. If we stay tonight, maybe we can figure something out tomorrow.
Audrey: We're just gonna bunk up with these hillbillies? Ugh. I TOLD you we should have flown. But no, "it'll be a nice road trip", "we never drive anywhere and see the scenery", "it'll be a nice change"... are you happy now??
Everett: Look. I don't like this either. But we have to make the best of it. Let's go get our stuff out of the car and get to their house. As least we'll be out of the cold. (turning back to John) Thank you for letting us stay with you. We will try not to be in the way. Excuse me for not introducing ourselves earlier, I'm Everett Greene, this is my wife Audrey, and our daughter Tiffany.
John: Oh, nice to meet you! I'm John Wilson, and this is my son, Luke. Oh don't worry, you won't be in the way, it's our pleasure! Now let's go get what you need out of the car, then we'll show you to the house.
All walk away, Audrey and Tiffany furious. Luke is watching them, shaking his head and laughing.
Scene II
Ruth, Aaron, and Jake are decorating the Christmas tree. The others walk in, carrying luggage.
Ruth: Well, hey guys! Who are our guests?
John: This is Everett, Audrey, and Tiffany Greene. Their car slid off in the ditch on the other side of Jefferson
Creek, so they'll be staying with us until they can get it out or make it to Walkertown. Folks, this is my wife, Ruth, and our other sons, Aaron, and Jake.
Everyone shakes hands and says hi.
Ruth: Well, it sure is nice to meet y'all. Where were y'all headed?
Everett: We are going to Florida to visit my parents. We usually fly, but we decided to drive this year. Looks like we should have flown...
Ruth: Well I'm sure you'll be able to make it down before too long. But for now, we're happy to have you! We were just starting to decorate the Christmas tree. Y'all are welcome to join us if you want! I also just made some coffee if you would like to sit a little while and warm up. Come on in the kitchen.
Everyone takes their coats off and the luggage is put aside. The adults go off stage to the kitchen to have some coffee, while Tiffany and Luke walk up to the tree.
Tiffany: THIS is your Christmas tree? Seriously??
Aaron: Yeah, what's wrong with it?
Tiffany: Are you kidding me?? It's so... so... it's just pitiful! Whoever sold you this tree REALLY ripped you off! It looks like it's never been trimmed or cared for at all.
Luke: Umm, why would we buy a tree? Nobody sold this to us, we cut it down in the woods.
Tiffany: Well, that explains some things... I'll help decorate it, and maybe I can get it looking nice... well... it'll never look nice, but maybe I can at least make it look presentable.
The boys all look at each other, rolling their eyes and shaking their heads. They all start decorating the tree and continue decorating through the whole conversation.
Jake: (to Tiffany) So where are you from?
Tiffany: Queens
Jake: Queens? Where is Queens? I've never heard of it.
Tiffany: What? Are you kidding? Wow. It's right outside New York City. You know, the Big Apple? The most exciting city in the entire country??
Jake: Ohhh, ok. So y'all are city slickers. (mocking Tiffany's earlier comment) "Well, that explains some things."
All the boys laugh.
Luke: I've always imagined New York to be really great around Christmas. What with all the parades and ice skating at Grand Central Park and everything. What's Christmas like up there?
Tiffany: Oh-my-goodness, it is SO great!!! All the stores go all-out with fancy window displays and decorations. The toy stores have TONS of great stuff, even for older kids. There's all these new electronics, toy, EVERYTHING you can imagine, on display, all the time, everywhere, for you to try out. My favorite is probably Tiffany's though, you know, the famous jewelry store? Since my name is Tiffany, my Dad ALWAYS gets me something special from there every year. It's always something too expensive for me to wear to school or anywhere like that, but it's still the greatest gift I ever get.
Luke: That's what Christmas is to you? All the fancy stuff? What about family time, traditions, church??
Aaron: And what about plays? Do y'all have Christmas plays up there: We do! I'm gonna be Joseph this year!
Tiffany: Oh yeah, I'm in a Christmas play every year because I get private acting lessons in a theater group. But which play are you doing? I don't remember a Joseph in "The Nutcracker", or "A Christmas Carol", or... or anything.
Jake: You don't know who Joseph is?? He's Jesus' Dad! In the Christmas story!
Tiffany: Which Christmas story?
Luke: THE CHRISTMAS STORY. Whoa, you don't know about Jesus??
Tiffany: No, not really. I mean, I've heard the name, but usually just when people say it out of habit or something like that.
Aaron: So you don't know why people have Nativity scenes at Christmas?
Tiffany: You know, I see those in stores and stuff, but I never really understood what they were for. I figured it was just some weird tradition.
Luke: Oh man, it is SO much more than just a tradition! It's like, the whole reason Christmas even exists! Look, I'll show you.
Luke looks through the box of decorations and pulls out a nativity scene. He picks up the pieces and shows them to Tiffany as he explains the Christmas story.
Luke: See, in the beginning, before there was anything at all, God existed. He has always existed. He made the world and everything that's in it. Well, after many, many years, the people were so bad that they needed some way to have forgiveness once and for all, for every sin they ever committed. A sin is anything bad, like telling a lie or thinking something mean, or ANYTHING. So the only way for them to reach God and not be punished for being bad was for God to send His only son, Jesus, to the world to save us. So God chose a very special woman, named Mary, to have the baby Jesus. She was pure and holy. She was engaged to a man named Joseph. Well, the King came up with this tax that everybody had to pay. Mary and Joseph had to go to a city called Bethlehem to pay the tax, but when they got there, there were so many people in town that all the inns were full, so they had to stay in a stable with the animals. She ended up having the baby that night, and since there wasn't a crib or anything nearby, she wrapped him up and laid him in a manger, which is like a feeding trough. That same night, some ways off, there were shepherds watching over their sheep. An angel appeared to them and told them that God's Son was born that night and was laying in a manger in Bethlehem. The angel told them not to be afraid, and then all these other angels appeared, shouting glory to God. Then all the angels went away back to heaven, and the shepherds searched through the city until they found Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. Then they worshiped Him and praised God.
Tiffany: Wow. I've never heard that before. (picking up the Wise Men from the Nativity scene) What about these men, who are they?
Aaron: Those are the Wise Men! They saw a bright star in the sky and knew that it was a sign that Jesus was born. So they followed the star until they found Jesus, and then they gave him presents of gold, myrrh, and frankincense.
Tiffany: Wow. They gave gold to a baby??
Luke: Well, like I said, He was the Son of God. He wasn't just a normal baby.
Tiffany: Huh... but wait, you said God sent Him here to save everyone, right? How did He save everyone??
Luke: When He grew up, He did many miracles: He calmed storms, He healed people who were sick, He even raised the dead! But some people didn't believe He was really God's Son, so they wanted to get rid of Him. They captured Him and beat Him, then they nailed Him to a wooden cross. He hung on the cross and died, but then three days later, He rose from the dead! Then He went back to heaven to be with God. When He died, He took on every sin that every person had ever committed. Even for people in the future, every bad thing we have ever done, or will ever do, was put on Jesus. Then He rose from the dead, showing that He had defeated sin and death. So now, all you have to do is believe in Him and accept Him as your Savior. Then, God will live inside you, and when you die, you will go to heaven and live with God. It's really simple. You just admit that you are a sinner, that you can't reach God on your own, and believe in your heart that Jesus has paid for your sin.
Tiffany: Oh... I've never heard about all this before. Thank you for telling me.
Luke: If you have any questions, or you want Jesus to be your Savior, you can always talk to my Mom or Dad. They can show you in the Bible all the stuff I just talked about.
Tiffany: Ok, thanks! I'll be thinking about it.
Ruth comes in.
Ruth: Good job kids, the tree looks great! The cookies we made just came out of the oven, so I thought y'all all might like some while they're hot.
Jake and Aaron: Yes! Cookies!
All the kids get excited and follow Ruth offstage to the kitchen.
Scene III
John and Ruth are on stage. John is reading the newspaper, and Ruth is sewing. Everett and Audrey enter.
Everett: Well, the kids are all in bed. Thanks so much for letting us stay the night!
John: Oh, it's no problem! Always glad to help someone out, especially at Christmas time!
Everett: Well, hopefully tomorrow we can figure something out and get out of your way. I'm so sorry we have to impose on you like this.
John: You're not imposing! There's always a reason for everything, God must want y'all here with us for a little while. I never question His ways, so you're welcome here until He works out a way for you to safely be back on the road.
Everett: I guess that's one way to look at it... I've never really believed much in God, but I guess that does make for a better and happier perspective on life.
John: Oh, God changes EVERYTHING in life! He changed our lives completely the day we surrendered to Him and asked Jesus to be our Savior. Neither one of us has ever been the same. He gives peace and joy that cannot be described.
Everett: Really? I knew people went to church to feel better, but I've never met anyone who had their life totally changed like that.
John: Well if it's ok with you, I'd be happy to show you in the Bible how God can change your life as well. Is it ok if I read you some verses?
Everett looks at Audrey, and they nod to each other in agreement.
Everett: Sure, that's fine.
John: Great! Alright, let's start at John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." God sent down His only Son, Jesus, to this world to die for us. He took on Himself all the sins of the entire world, even future sins that had not been committed yet. He had to come die for us because we were not good enough on our own. Three days later, he defeated sin by rising from the dead. So now all we have to do is trust in Him and believe on Him, and we can be saved. The Holy Spirit enters our hearts, and we become the children of God. Romans 3:10 and 23 say, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" and "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Then a few chapters over, Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." So we're all sinners, but we can have eternal life through God. All you have to do is believe that Jesus died for your sins, repent and turn away from your sins, and accept Him as your Savior. Romans 10:9 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Audrey: I don't know... it seems a bit farfetched to me, like a fairy tale to me. You can't tell me you actually believe all of that.
Everett: I apologize for my wife's bluntness, but I have to agree with her. What kind of a father would give his only child to die for everyone in the whole world?
John: I understand how you feel. I couldn't imagine giving up one of my boys for anybody, let alone for everyone in the whole world. But that is just how much God loved you and me.
Ruth: Audrey, can I ask you a question?
Audrey: Of course!
Ruth: If there was a bad disease running rampant through the entire world, and Tiffany had the cure and all she had to do was share it and people would be cured, what would you do? Would you make her stay and watch people die? Or let her go and help people?
Audrey: Well of course I would let her help, it would be a crime against humanity for her to withhold that cure, not to mention selfish on my part!
Ruth: Exactly! Well the same with God and His Son. Jesus had the cure for the disease called sin, and He had to die and rise again. It would have been selfish of God to withhold the cure for yours and my sin.
Everett: I understand, but I am still not sure.
Audrey: Thank you for explaining it to us!
John: You're quire welcome, we will be praying for you both. Please let me know if you have any more questions.
Everett and Audrey: Thanks.
Ruth: Let me show you where you will be sleeping, I'm sure y'all are ready to get to bed after such a long day.
Audrey: That would be great, I am very tired.
All cast leave the set, as if going to bed.
Scene IV
Everett and Audrey enter, aggravated.
Audrey: It's been 6 days, Everett -- 6 days!! It's Christmas Eve!! When are we going to get out of here??
Everett: I know, I know. I've been calling around every day, but so far, the roads are still closed, and there's still no one around to tow the car. I'm sorry. But hey, would it be so bad if we spent Christmas here? Tiffany really seems to be having a good time. And I think it's great that we have all learned the story of Jesus.
Audrey: Well, yeah... I don't know about all the religious talk though. It makes me uncomfortable. I mean, we're not bad people. Who are they to tell us that we need Jesus in order to go to heaven?
Everett: Well, they make a lot of sense. John was showing me some more verses in the Bible last night that really made me think. Maybe it was God bringing us here so we would learn about Him.
Audrey: Think what you want, I just want to get out of here. I don't like being made to feel like I'm not good enough on my own.
Everett: I don't know, maybe you're right. It would be hard to explain to everyone back home; what would my friends at the country club say?
Audrey: Your friends? What about me, and the other mothers at the PTA -- they would laugh me to scorn. We would never be able to show our faces, at any of the high-class parties. Our social life would essentially be ruined!
Everett: True, but I can't get the thought out of my head of how someone could love me so much that He would give up His only Son. I mean that is just beyond the scope of my understanding, and if this is true, I want to know more about it.
Audrey: But how do you know what is truth? There are so many people out there who say they have the right way to heaven... I mean, are we sure this is the only way?
Everett: I don't know. John was talking to me last night about child-like faith: a trust, like a child trusting his parents will feed and take care of him. We should have that same trust and belief in Jesus!
Coming from side door, the rest of the cast joins Everett and Audrey.
John: Everett and Audrey, we have some excellent news! Go ahead Tiffany, tell them!
Tiffany: (with tears) Mom, Dad! I haven't been able to get out of my mind how much God loves me. I also saw that I was dying and going to hell, and I didn't want that, so I asked Jesus to save me! And you know what? He did! Mom, Dad! Will you please accept Him too!?
Everett and Audrey begin to weep, and fall to their knees. John puts his hand on Everett as if praying over him and Ruth puts her hand on Audrey. They all begin praying, but words are inaudible.
Song: In the Bleak Midwinter
After song, everyone stands back up, wiping their eyes and hugging.
Audrey: Everett, why were we making all those excuses not to get saved?
Everett: Well I think because we were scared, but truthfully there is no real excuse not to accept Jesus as your Savior.
Ruth: Amen!
John: Everett you are exactly right. Hey we usually read the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Morning. Would you like to read it for us tonight since this is your first real Christmas?
Everett: I would be honored!
All cast sits down in the house, and John picks up his Bible.
John: Here you go Everett, this is the passage we always read, in Luke 2:1-20.
Everett: (Reads Luke 2:1-20)
"1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."
Tiffany: This is the best Christmas ever!
Audrey: (smiling) Are you sure -- what about that year your Dad bought you those diamond earrings?
Tiffany: That was good, but nothing tops my Savior washing all my sins away!
Everett: I agree!
John walks up to center stage, and the rest of the cast steps back.
John: There really is no excuse good enough not to accept Christ as your Savior. The Greene family found that out this Christmas. I hope and pray that your Christmas season is spent remembering the REAL meaning of Christmas, which is the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. If you have never experienced the joy of knowing Christ as your Savior, we hope and pray you ask Him into your heart this Christmas.
