Christmas with the Wart Family 2025
The Light of the World
Sue Wilson
It was Christmas time again, and Mama Wart could see that her curious daughter, Angelina, was headed her way with questions. She always seemed to have questions, but especially at Christmas. There was so much she didn’t understand about the things that happen only at Christmas. Mama put on her best smile as Angelina approached with a wrinkle between her ears.
“Mama, why do people put up so many lights and candles at Christmas time? It seems like a lot of work to me, and a lot of money for batteries!”
“Well, Angelina Dear, you are correct! It is a lot of work and a lot of money. But do you think it’s worth it? Do you like seeing all the lovely lights everywhere?”
“Oh yes! Don’t get me wrong, Mama! I love seeing the sparkling lights everywhere up and down the street and even inside the house. It makes everything seem so beautiful!”
“I agree! I love it too, but let’s talk about your question. Do you have any ideas why people put up lights and candles at Christmas?”
“Hmmm, well, only that they must also love how it makes everything so beautiful. But in that case, why wouldn’t they just have them out all year long?”
“That’s a good point, dear, but do you think if all these decorations were up all the time, we would eventually just take them for granted?”
”What does that mean, Mama? ‘Take them for granted’ ?”
“It means we might just stop noticing them if they were always there.”
Angelina had to think about that for a few moments. She tapped her front hoof on the concrete as she looked out at the neighbor’s cat walking by. “Oh! You mean like how much I love the poinsettia between my ears so much because it is only there at Christmas? If it was there all the time, I might stop loving it so much, right? Is that what you mean, Mama?”
“That is exactly what I mean, dear. You are so smart! But I think there is another reason for all the lights at Christmas time. And I think it might be a reason that most people don’t even realize.”
“Ohhhh! This sounds like one of your good stories, Mama. I’m going to call the boys over to listen in—and Papa too! We all love your good stories, Mama!”
“Why, thank you, dear. That is a very kind thing to say. You go get Papa, and the boys, and I will settle myself down here on this soft mat and wait for you all to come sit with me.”
As Angelia came trotting back with Papa and the boys, Harold and Hiram, trailing behind her, Mama Wart thought about just how much she loved this little family of hers. Christmas always turned her thoughts to love, and just how much God loved all creatures great and small. Her little family was certainly not what some would consider to be “great” in the big scheme of all creatures, but they were pretty great in her eyes, for sure.
As everyone settled around Mama, she took a moment to smile at each one of them.
“What’s this about a story, Mama?” Papa said as he lowered his tail so it wouldn’t be in anyone’s way. “Angelina said something about lights and how not everyone knows why we love them so much at Christmas. I was just thinking about that very thing today as I watched the neighbors hanging lights up on their home. I can’t wait to hear what you have to tell us.”
“Yes, Mama, please do tell us!” Hiram shouted, a little too loudly, he realized, and then was a bit embarrassed.
Mama smiled and took a deep breath. “Well, my sweet family, here’s something I have been thinking about. Sometimes Grandma Sue reads aloud from her Bible, and I find that there are always fascinating insights to be gained by listening to her words. For instance, did you know the Bible says that Jesus is the light of the world?”
Mama watched her family as they considered that.
“But Mama, how can a person be a light? They have no way to light up. There is no plug-in or match to light them.”
“Well, let’s talk about that,” Mama said. “You know what it’s like on a dark night when the clouds hide the moon and the stars, and it is really hard to see anything around you?”
“Oh, yes!” Harold said. “I have to admit, it’s a little creepy. You just never know what’s out there because you can’t see through all that darkness.”
“That’s right, son. Darkness can be very scary, for sure, but what happens when the moon suddenly breaks through the clouds?” Papa spoke up. He was pretty sure he knew where Mama was going with this story.
“The light from the moon chases away the darkness!” Angelina said with a smile. “I love when that happens!”
“That’s right!” Mama said. “Well, I think when the Bible says that Jesus is the Light of the World, it means that Jesus is like the moon on a dark night. He is full of Heaven’s light and chases away all the darkness around us.”
Mama could see that her children were now completely confused by that, so she decided to continue.
“Who can tell me why we celebrate Christmas?” Mama asked and then shook her head and rolled her eyes at Papa when his hand shot up. She nodded to her son, “Harold, go ahead.”
“Well, we celebrate Christmas to remember that Jesus was born!”
“That’s right, Harold, very good! Now, who can tell me why Jesus was born?”
“I can, Mama!” said Hiram. “He was born to take away the sins of all the people in the world so that they can someday live in Heaven with God!”
Mama smiled her biggest smile ever. “How did I manage to get such smart children? That is so very right, Hiram! Now one more question. Angelina, maybe you would like to answer this one? How did the shepherds find their way to the place where the baby Jesus was born on that dark night out in the shepherd’s fields?”
Angelina’s face lit up. “Oh, that’s easy, Mama! There was a bright star in the sky that guided them!”
“Excellent, dear daughter! You are just as smart as both your brothers! And now, dear Papa, you can answer this one: how is Jesus like that bright star that appeared on the night of his birth?”
“Well, Mama, just like the bright star guided the shepherds to the baby Jesus, the Jesus that lives in our hearts can guide us to God. He is our light in a very dark world.” Papa was so proud of the way Mama always took the time to teach their family about Jesus.
“Thank you, Papa, that is so true. So, you see, children, when we light up our world at Christmas time, it can be a reminder that Jesus, who was born at Christmas, was, is, and always will be, the light of the world. Without him in our hearts, we would live in a very dark place. Do you understand?”
The children all nodded, and then Angelina said something that nearly made Mama burst with pride.
“So Mama, I think there are a lot of people, and by people, I also mean warthog people, who don’t really know that Jesus wants to live in them and be their light in this world. We need to be sure we tell everyone we know the story of why we light up our world at Christmas, how Jesus is the light of the world, and how he wants to live in their hearts! Isn’t that right, Mama?”
“My dear Angelina, that is so very right that I simply must give you a big hug! In fact, let’s all come together for a family hug, and then Papa can help us all sing a song that tells about being a light in the world.”
The Wart Family gathered together in a big family hug as Papa led them in a song. “This little light of mine; I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine; I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”
John 8:12 (NIV) I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”