A Christmas Miracle at The Battle Of
The Bulge
perryolsen.com |
~ Fritz Vincken / wjpbr.com ~
A man now, Fritz Vincken, narrates this true
story about when he was a small boy at the time in 1944. The Battle of the
Bulge was at its height. A German cook who was with the German Army there had
left his wife and the above mentioned little boy in a shack way in the woods
seemingly from harm's way.
It was December 24th, Christmas Eve
and it was a very cold night. Many soldiers on both sides became lost from
their units and were looking for a place to stay.
Three American Soldiers were lost
around the area where the shack was. They saw the light from the shack and the
smoke from the chimney. They saw their chance to warm up. They knocked on the
door and asked if they could come in. The German lady had a small chicken
cooking for themselves but invited the Americans in to warm up and for the
Christmas meal.
One of the American Soldiers was
wounded and the lady tried to make him comfortable. There was a language
barrier for a time till one of the soldiers found out the lady could speak
French as well as German! So everything was going well and the Americans were
feeling right at home!
Then suddenly there was a knock at
the door. The American's went for their guns. The lady went to the door and
answered it. There were four German soldiers who were lost from their unit and
they asked the lady for shelter. The lady answered them with this, "Yes,
you can come in for Christmas dinner but I have other guests." One German
soldier remarked, "Americana?" She said, "yes and that this was
Christmas and there would be no killing on this night." She also told the
Germans that they would have to lay down their weapons while they came in. She
instructed the Americans to do the same!
There they were all in the room
together, soldiers who a little while ago were bent on killing each other. Now,
they were in a room together with no weapons. Everyone could feel the tension
in the air. It was so quiet for about ten minutes. Then one American soldier
offered the Germans a cigarette. They obliged! Suddenly one of the Germans who
had medical training asked about the wounded American. He then began to help
the wounded American and made him as comfortable as he could be.
Suddenly, Christmas dinner was ready
and before they ate the lady had a speech for them. She told them that war was
wrong and told them the beauty of Christmas day and what it all meant. (Of
course she said in German to the Germans and French to the Americans). All the
soldiers had tears in the eyes, even the tough German Sergeant. So with that
they ate and from an uneasy friendship was built a genuine friendship in Christ
that night. Later on, the soldiers all sang Silent Night in their own native
tongues.
So later on the former enemies all
went to sleep under the same roof. In the morning the Germans built a stretcher
for the wounded American and even gave directions to the Americans on how to
get back to their lines. The Germans took the lady and her son back to the
German lines to bring them to her husband.
So, for one night in a great battle,
Christ's peace was in the hearts of these nine people. This shows that even
when you think you’re in the worst possible situation you can possibly be in,
Christ is there!
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Have a VERY Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah,
and a joyous Holiday season!!
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Note: In addition to writing my own blogs / stories,
I also like to search for stories and other inspiring / motivating /
encouraging things from around the World Wide Web. If you see an article or
story that you have written and want it removed, please feel free to let me
know. I do try to give credit to the people and/or web sites that I find the
information when I can.
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