Sure Charlie Brown, I can Tell You What Christmas is All About

 

The man sat near the fire as he worked diligently with his hands. Yes, he could have left the preparation of the wool to the women, but ever since he was a young man tending sheep in the field it had been a comfort to him. He loved the feel of the lanolin on his hands, softening and sealing the cracks that age and weather had brought. There was something soothing about the repetitive motion of combing out the tips of the locks in preparation for spinning. And then the spinning. Once he had begun, it was like his mind went somewhere else. His hands worked independently with no conscious thought on his part. He could almost feel himself transported to that night so long ago, but still so fresh in his memory. 

Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!" When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us." So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said. But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.  Luke 2:8-20

Before he knows it, the spun yarn is ready to remove from the spindle, and as he winds it carefully into a ball, he hears the voices of children as they come running into the small house. They are dancing and playing but they head in his direction with smiles and expectant looks on their faces. One voice on top of the other, they beg him to tell them the story one more time, the story of the angels and the baby! His patient hand gestures for them to sit on the floor around him as he gathers his thoughts to tell the story for the thousandth time, the story he never minds retelling.

Here's the Thing:  The Christmas story is one I have heard over and over again every year since I was born. I was blessed to hear it in the voice of my grandfathers who have gone on to heaven ahead of me. I've been blessed to hear it in the voice of my husband, as he directs our eyes to Jesus on Christmas. I've even been blessed to hear it in the voices of my children. It never gets old. I never think that I know all there is to know about it because every year Jesus teaches me something new.

Ok, I can't help but share these pictures I gathered of the wool preparation process with you!

First, the sheep is sheared and the wool is gathered:

Next, it is washed and, perhaps, dyed. Back in Jesus' time they would have used plant-based dyes like the ones used on the wool in these pictures:

Then they hang it all up to dry:

And it will get all combed through to make it easier to spin:

In Biblical times, they didn't have spinning wheels. They used something called a drop spindle that my Mom taught me how to use a long time ago. Its a very meditative process, and it is quite common for my hands to take over and my mind to go somewhere else:

 

Typically, they would take three of these strands and ply them together to make a stronger yarn:

From here, people will knit, crochet, or weave the yarn into a finished product:

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