Tucked away in a closet, I found a fifth nativity set. Laying in the stable were three plastic figures-Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. In a plastic container mixed with farm animals, I discovered more pudgy characters. A shepherd, two wisemen, a girl holding a jar, and an angel added to the display. A lamb, cow, horse, and chicken joined the group. Since chickens and horses aren’t usually part of a traditional nativity, I put them back in the box with the other animals that were part of a farm set.
In the toy nativity, every chubby person was smiling. Even the animals were rotund and lovable. They weren’t fragile or carefully crafted by an artist. They enticed tiny hands to clutch and play with them. Little hands could move them into place and rearrange their positions. Eager children could act out the Christmas story as they saw it.
A child’s nativity might include the chicken and horse along with other farm animals. No one would be excluded. The story would be lively, real, and personal. Joy and humor would fill the stable as everyone joined the celebration.
Though I love looking at our four more traditional manager scenes, they are rigid and impersonal. The toy one reminds me that Jesus should not be put on a shelf and merely admired. There should be joy at His presence. He is real, accessible and came to save us. That is the real Christmas gift.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3: 16-17 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment