In the season before the child was born, a competition was announced that would herald his birth throughout the world: a symphony of bells would be hand-created to proclaim the joyous news to heaven and earth.
The competition rules were simple: Anyone could enter, but each contestant was limited to three days in which to create a bell of unlimited size, using only those materials found on the earth. In addition, one firm condition existed: each entry must follow the same master design for the bell shape. At the end of the competition, the bell judged "most perfect" would be the first one tolled to call forth the faithful and rejoice.
As word of the contest spread, the richest and most powerful leaders immediately put their artisans to work. Precious jewels, metals, and ornaments were gathered throughout their lands and brought before the rulers. One king demanded that sacks of coins be melted for his design. He bragged that his bell, made of solid gold, would be proof of his extreme wealth to all the world.
A sultana from a distant land, hearing of the golden bell, ordered her jewelers to create one twice its size. Formed from the purest silver, her image was etched upon it so all would recognize her beauty.
An emperor took his prize diamond and had it cut and polished into a bell, carefully following the master design. Thousands of rubies, emeralds, and sapphires were embedded on the bell in the shape of a dragon, so all would know of his dynasty.
When he heard of these other bells, a regal potentate gave the order to harvest natural coral from the sea and shape it into a bell. Strings of pearls and bounty from sunken ships spelled out his name, so all would know of his domain over the oceans.
Meanwhile high in the heavens, tiny angels watched these events unfold. And although they wanted to create a bell themselves to honor the child, all of the precious metals and jewels were already taken. In fact, nothing remained for them to use except a chunk of lead and a handful of sand.
And so, as the master craftsmen carved and etched and shaped, the littlest angels took their meager materials and combined the lead and the sand. As they did this, they gently bowed their heads in silent prayer. They prayed for the small child, for the love he could bring to this world and for the peace that might yet come one day. They prayed for the comfort of the old and the dreams of the young.
As the love they had for this child grew stronger, the power of their faith transferred to the materials, which began to dissolve and flow together. And from this glowing transformation of common lead and sand, the angels created a miniature pair of flawless crystal bells.
When the third day arrived, the entries were brought together to be judged, and one by one, each was suspended from cords high in the heavens. The golden bell was magnificent in its splendor, with the king basking in its glow. The silver bell was dazzling to every eye and displayed the image of the sultana to all who were present. The glittering diamond bell, with its dragon set in gemstones, reflected upon the emperor, while the treasure-laden coral bell held forth the potentate's name. And at the end of the row, the tiny crystal bells hung side by side, watched over by their angels. The child, for whom all this had been done, lay sleeping in his manger, wrapped in swaddling cloth, and oblivious to all of the excitement around him.
At last the great moment arrived and the cry went out, “Let the bells toll!”
But not a bell was tolled nor a sound was heard. All were silent. All were still.
It became suddenly clear that they had forgotten to include a clapper in the layout. There was nothing to ring the bell! The master design was flawed.
Just then, the angels caught a glimpse of the child and became so excited that their flickering tiny wings brushed against the crystal bells. The perfectly matched pair swayed in the delicate breeze and gently began to tap against each other, producing the most magnificent tone heard in the heavens.
Yet astonishingly, the clarity of the crystal bell’s sound was not its only gift. As the intensity and purity of the angels’ love for this child began to glow and reflect through them, a prism of light was created. Suddenly, a rainbow of glorious colors arched across the sky, beginning with the angels and ending with the child in his manger.
And in an arc of true perfection, the rainbow cast a multitude of colors upon the earth and the heavenly bodies. For in this glorious ethereal light, it became crystal-clear to one and all that it is not the riches upon the earth, but the riches within the heart that celebrates the purest love for a little child.
Wishing each of you a blessed and joyous holiday.
Given with love,
Marilyn
The competition rules were simple: Anyone could enter, but each contestant was limited to three days in which to create a bell of unlimited size, using only those materials found on the earth. In addition, one firm condition existed: each entry must follow the same master design for the bell shape. At the end of the competition, the bell judged "most perfect" would be the first one tolled to call forth the faithful and rejoice.
As word of the contest spread, the richest and most powerful leaders immediately put their artisans to work. Precious jewels, metals, and ornaments were gathered throughout their lands and brought before the rulers. One king demanded that sacks of coins be melted for his design. He bragged that his bell, made of solid gold, would be proof of his extreme wealth to all the world.
A sultana from a distant land, hearing of the golden bell, ordered her jewelers to create one twice its size. Formed from the purest silver, her image was etched upon it so all would recognize her beauty.
An emperor took his prize diamond and had it cut and polished into a bell, carefully following the master design. Thousands of rubies, emeralds, and sapphires were embedded on the bell in the shape of a dragon, so all would know of his dynasty.
When he heard of these other bells, a regal potentate gave the order to harvest natural coral from the sea and shape it into a bell. Strings of pearls and bounty from sunken ships spelled out his name, so all would know of his domain over the oceans.
Meanwhile high in the heavens, tiny angels watched these events unfold. And although they wanted to create a bell themselves to honor the child, all of the precious metals and jewels were already taken. In fact, nothing remained for them to use except a chunk of lead and a handful of sand.
And so, as the master craftsmen carved and etched and shaped, the littlest angels took their meager materials and combined the lead and the sand. As they did this, they gently bowed their heads in silent prayer. They prayed for the small child, for the love he could bring to this world and for the peace that might yet come one day. They prayed for the comfort of the old and the dreams of the young.
As the love they had for this child grew stronger, the power of their faith transferred to the materials, which began to dissolve and flow together. And from this glowing transformation of common lead and sand, the angels created a miniature pair of flawless crystal bells.
When the third day arrived, the entries were brought together to be judged, and one by one, each was suspended from cords high in the heavens. The golden bell was magnificent in its splendor, with the king basking in its glow. The silver bell was dazzling to every eye and displayed the image of the sultana to all who were present. The glittering diamond bell, with its dragon set in gemstones, reflected upon the emperor, while the treasure-laden coral bell held forth the potentate's name. And at the end of the row, the tiny crystal bells hung side by side, watched over by their angels. The child, for whom all this had been done, lay sleeping in his manger, wrapped in swaddling cloth, and oblivious to all of the excitement around him.
At last the great moment arrived and the cry went out, “Let the bells toll!”
But not a bell was tolled nor a sound was heard. All were silent. All were still.
It became suddenly clear that they had forgotten to include a clapper in the layout. There was nothing to ring the bell! The master design was flawed.
Just then, the angels caught a glimpse of the child and became so excited that their flickering tiny wings brushed against the crystal bells. The perfectly matched pair swayed in the delicate breeze and gently began to tap against each other, producing the most magnificent tone heard in the heavens.
Yet astonishingly, the clarity of the crystal bell’s sound was not its only gift. As the intensity and purity of the angels’ love for this child began to glow and reflect through them, a prism of light was created. Suddenly, a rainbow of glorious colors arched across the sky, beginning with the angels and ending with the child in his manger.
And in an arc of true perfection, the rainbow cast a multitude of colors upon the earth and the heavenly bodies. For in this glorious ethereal light, it became crystal-clear to one and all that it is not the riches upon the earth, but the riches within the heart that celebrates the purest love for a little child.
Wishing each of you a blessed and joyous holiday.
Given with love,
Marilyn