December 23, 1970

One day little Charlie Bear was looking out the window watching the snowflakes fall on the cold ground when he noticed a Christmas tree that seemed to stand out from the other trees in the National Forest.

As he watched it, the tree seemed to beckon to him to go out.

Little Charlie put on his warm jacket and ran through the new snow toward the tree. When he reached it, he said, “Hello, Mr. Tree. Do you have something you want to tell me?”

“Yes, little Charlie. I just want to remind you that it’s time for you and your friends to take a trip to the Holy Land to see the new Baby.”

“Oh, thank you for reminding me, Mr. Christmas tree.”

The tree leaned over and said, “When you see that especially bright star in the evening and it’s cold and maybe snowing, then you know it’s about the right time.”

“I’ll ask Papa Bear if he’s ready to take us. Good bye, Mr. Tree.”

Little Charlie ran as fast as he could into the house where he found Papa Bear cleaning out the fireplace. Little Charlie could hardly wait till he got into the room before he asked, “Papa, can we go to the Holy Land tonight?”

Papa Bear was not surprised to hear the question because he knew it was THAT time.

“I’ll be ready to go right after supper if your mother and your sister Annie can be ready by then,” replied Papa Bear in a calm voice.

“Yippee! Can we take some of our forest friends too?” begged little Charlie.

“If it’s all right with their mothers, it’s all right with me. I believe we have enough travelling caps for everyone. Who do you have in mind?”

“Pam and Kim the Bunny twins, Craig and Chris the Chipmunks, and Danny and Davy the deer brothers. Is that too many?”

“No, I think we can take them. Scamper over to their homes and find out if they can come.”

Little Charlie ran out of the house and, again, it wasn’t long before he was back home. He told his father, “Pam and Kim can come and Danny and Davy can come but I’m not sure about Craig and Chris ’cause their mother wasn’t home. They’ll be over right after supper if she says it’s all right.”

When supper was finished and the dishes all put away, Papa Charlie said, “Run and get the travelling caps, little Charlie. It’s time for us to be getting on our way.”

It didn’t take the little Bear long to find the caps. Papa and Mama Bear and Annie and little Charlie went out on the front porch. Papa Bear handed each one a cap.

When they all had their caps on Papa Bear said, “Whirl around three times, take two somersaults and here we are right in the cave with the new-born Baby who grew up to be The Savior of the World.”

The children were silent. They just looked at the beautiful Baby and at His mother. Somehow a special radiance seemed to emanate from Him.

Finally Annie dared speak up. She asked Papa Bear, “Why does He have such a bright light all around Him when it’s so dark in here?”

“This is because He is God’s Son. He is truly the Light of the World and when He grows up will teach the people about God and how He loves us all. This baby is called a Messiah.”

This answer was just a little bit more than Annie could understand but she nodded and said, “Oh.”

It was not long before some shepherds came into the cave. They too saw the beautiful Baby and saw the light all around Him. They didn’t even talk among themselves — just knelt in prayer.

Little Charlie thought it was time to go. Papa Bear agreed that they had seen the Baby and it was time to go back home.

Annie wanted to give something to the Baby. She couldn’t think of anything the Baby could use, so she went up close to Him and sang a Christmas carol she had learned in Sunday School. Before long the other children joined in and the shepherds did too as they all sang, “Away In A Manger.”

Papa Charlie took his family outside and said, “Whirl around three times, take two somersaults and there we are back in the forest.”

Mama Bear told the children it was time for bed — but little Charlie stopped at the window and looked out at the special bright star in the sky.