Nice hankie
As Christmas approached and we moved through the Advent season, I began to see nativity scenes put on display and also had some Christmas cards arrive in the mail. Add in the singing of a certain Christmas carol, and I’ve been reminded of the ‘kings’ who presented their gifts to Jesus (somewhere, sometime, depending on Church tradition and what Scripture says).
I wondered – as I’m prone to – what it would have looked like if the three ‘kings’ were Salvos. Apart from the minor detail that Jesus was born more than 18 centuries before the Army began, it’s an interesting hypothetical to ponder.
Will: Hello Mary, Joseph. My name’s Will, this is Bram, and this is Herbie. We’ve come to present some gifts to young Jesus here, and a fine-looking lad he is.
Bram and Herbie: [shouting] Hallelujah!
Mary: Shh, he’s sleeping.
Bram and Herbie: [whispering] Hallelujah!
Will: We’ve travelled a long way to find this child and we have presents fit for a king.
Joseph: Oh, that’s nice. I hope they’re something he’ll find useful and enjoy.
Bram: Most certainly, good sir. Here, for him, I present this Besson Prestige cornet. It has a hand-hammered, yellow-brass bell; top-sprung, hand-lapped Monel piston valves; three slide triggers, and it comes with a hand-made, wood-constructed case with brass-plated locks.
Joseph: Oh … goody … a cornet. That’s what a carpenter’s son needs. A short, fat trumpet. Nothing like our little noisemaker having a little noisemaker.
Herbie: I present to this precious child a Salvation Army flag handkerchief that can be waved vigorously during times of worship and stored conveniently in the pocket when not in use.
Mary: Right. Just two questions: first, what’s a pocket? And second, why does it say ‘BLOOD & FIRE’? He’s not a pirate; he’s a child.
Herbie: Well, the ‘fire’ refers to the fire of the Holy Spirit, and the ‘blood’ refers to the … well, never mind. It’s a nice hankie.
Will: And I present to the child this songbook of stirring anthems and traditional hymns and modern songs of praise and worship.
Joseph: A book? What’s that?
Will: It’s like a scroll, cut up into small pieces and stacked together in order.
Joseph: Well, that seems a bit much to carry around. Wouldn’t it be more convenient just putting the words up on a wall for everyone to see, like at Belshazzar’s feast in the book of Daniel?
Herbie: [laughing] Oh, such a rich idea. No one will want to do that when they can carry the words around with them. Funny fellow.
Will: And, so, we leave these gifts for the child – a cornet, a small flaggy thing and a songbook – we pray he finds joy and worth in these gifts.
Mary: We thank you, fine sirs, and wish you safe travels on your return.
Will: Farewell. Oh, and by the way, those gifts are for his birthday and for Christmas.
Bram and Herbie: Hallelujah!
Major Mal Davies is the Assistant Divisional Commander for the Victoria Division
