Christmas Reflection: Adam, Eve and the Story of Their Lost Children

Mother Eve was waiting for her husband to return from the days’ labour in the fields. The season was early Winter and the nights were quickly drawing in.

Her children were numerous and on occasion, while tidying up, they would get under her feet.  So she would chide them and push them out of the house.

On this Winter’s day, she saw Father Adam coming home after his days’ labour.   Her children had been particularly vexing her that day and so she told them to go and greet their father.

Out rushed the many children, running to meet their father.  They could see him far off in the distance.

They sped down the path, and into the valley which stretched out below their house.  The deeper they went, the darker it got.  Soon, they could not see the Sun.

They came to a fork in the road.

Some thought they could hear their father’s distinctive whistle in the wind.  Others thought they could hear his hob-nailed boots clumping upon the path.  Others simply remembered the way to the field.  All these children went along the right path to welcome their father home.

But, then there were some who could not hear his whistle, nor the clump of their father’s hob-nailed boots, nor could they remember the way to the field.  They did not trust the enthusiasm of their brothers and sisters and turned left. 

Maybe because they wanted to walk their own path.  Maybe because they never bothered learning the whistling song. And others, because they just wanted to be rebellious.

Whereas their brothers and sisters found Father Adam and he embraced them.  The rebels soon became lost.  The spirits they met on the way continued to confuse them.  Even the directions from what seemed like the most-helpful fairy, proved only to get them lost even further.

The Sun began to set and Mother Eve started to worry. Father Adam finished his cup of tea and headed out to find his lost children.

He walked into the valley.  The clumping of his hob-nailed boots echoed.  His whistling song pierced the darkness.  He called out the names of his children, over and over.

And eventually, they heard him and came running.

Adam picked them all up in his embrace and they cried tears of joy and repentance.  They were lost and now they were found.

From that day, all the children learnt the way to the field.  They learnt to recognise their father’s footsteps.  And remembered the song he’d whistle when he walked along.

At Christmas, all us sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, remember how the Creator descended into the dark valley to find His children.

We remember His footsteps as He walked through the Roman Province of Palestine.

And we remember His song as He called out our names.  We, who were once lost, have now been found.  And now He carries us, with His arms open wide, all the way back home.