You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise up

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 NIV

When I was young, my mother was a social worker at an inpatient facility for mentally and emotionally disabled children. Occasionally she received permission to take a few of them for short outings. She always chose the ones who had little or no contact with their families. The year I was eight, she decided to give three of her favorites a special Christmas, one they wouldn’t forget.

My six-year-old sister and I helped her prepare a big Christmas feast and shopped for gifts for each of them. On the big day, she brought the boys to our house. I honestly don’t remember much of the details of the festivities, but I’m sure a good time was had by all.

After dinner, Mom brought out the special dessert – an angel food cake covered in whipped cream icing. Atop the cake was a foil-wrapped star with a beautiful angel standing in the center, and candles all around. I remember wishing I could play with that angel because she was so pretty, with golden hair and a halo, and wearing a long, flowing white gown. Mom explained to all of us that this was Jesus’s birthday cake, and there was one candle for every century since His birth. She had us stand in a circle around the table with the cake in the center. She lit the candles and turned off the lights. We all held hands and sang “Silent Night.” It was such a beautiful, moving experience. Then we launched into a lively version of “Happy Birthday to Jesus!”

But before we got more than a few words into the song, something went wrong. The angel’s gown caught fire. I don’t know what fabric it was made of, but it went up like a torch. Our voices died away as Mom dashed to the kitchen sink for water to douse the flames. As I said, I don’t remember too many details of the evening, but I will never forget the wide-eyed expressions on those boys’ faces, illuminated by the flames, as they watched the angel burn, looking like a miniature replica of Joan of Arc. I know Mom wanted to make a lasting impression on all of us. She definitely succeeded!

Jesus’s birthday cake has become a Christmas Eve tradition in our family since that night. Those who are celebrating in person gather around the kitchen table. We pull out our cell phones and Facetime with distant family members. Mom lights the candles, and someone douses the lights. We all stand in a circle, holding hands, and sing “Silent Night.” I’m not the only one who has to blink back tears as I look from one beloved face to another, each of them illuminated by flickering candlelight. When that song is finished, we launch into a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday to Jesus!” Do you know how awesome it is to watch multiple generations of our family, from great grandparents all the way down to toddlers, singing Happy Birthday to our Savior? That tradition is precious to all of us, and we’re still making memories.

Only now, we use a non-flammable angel.

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Do you have a favorite Christmas memory? I’d love to hear about it.