Baby Jesus Is Missing

It was silly of me to only wear a raincoat with the temperature near freezing, but the laughter between Molly and I kept me warm as we scurried from store to store. We pulled up to our final destination of the evening--a thrift store--and hoped to find a little table for her room in this last place. We giggled about our shopping adventure thus far: how the lady at Michaels placed her tiny Yorkshire terrier on the floor for us to see and he took off on her and we watched her chase him around the store. We laughed at how we kept bumping into people we knew. We counted them up, even the old childhood friend of mine, and they numbered seven--in two hours. We remembered the man in Walmart who scared us at first with all his chatter, but we realized that he was merely bumbling in sharing his Christian faith. And, Molly made fun of the way the photo machine worked every time she touched it, but my fingers tapping the screen paused it every time. However, the thing that left us in stitches was our second-hand store incident centred around a Christmas decoration.

On our way to the furniture section, a lovely nativity set in a basket caught my eye. We own about five sets since I like to make our home decorated in the real reason for the season, plus, I always wanted the kids to play with the scene without worry of them breaking my delicate ones. I called my daughter over to enjoy this amazing find with me--and at the low price of $6.99! I held up each hand painted ceramic figure and admired. It was so unique! The little donkey had a small shepherd hiding behind him and the camels looked real. I loved it. Suddenly, a woman moved in close behind me and exclaimed, "Oh that's beautiful!" in a thick accent. She nearly hung over my shoulder and continued commenting about the treasure, clearly desiring it. I smiled and agreed, then she walked off. 

As I gently moved each piece around, I noticed that Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus were missing. "Aw, too bad. The most important ones aren't here." I mumbled to Molly that I now knew why it was that cheap. I returned the basket to the shelf and the woman stepped up to us again. I told her there were missing pieces, which she didn't seem to mind. She went to lift a wise man and I informed her that the most important person was absent from the group. Just then, she understood. She also replaced it and walked away.

A few minutes later, we heard a man with the same accent calling to his wife that he'd found a nativity set. By now, she was a little ways from him. She tried to tell him she'd already seen it. He called to her again assuring her she'd like it. Molly and I just looked at each other and began to chuckle as they comically yelled back and forth about the illusory gem. Finally, the woman declared across the drapery rack, "The Baby Jesus is missing! That's the most important piece!" 

I had spoken the very same words to her but it was her declaration that struck me: if the Baby Jesus is missing, what's the point? All the fun, fury and fellowship of Christmas is nothing without the connection to the One who made the season real in the first place. No wonder there are stresses, obligations, debt and depression in December. If we could remove all the traditions, all the shopping, all the commercialism, and bring it back to the manger, there would be so much more peace in our hearts. Not that there's anything wrong with celebrating this beautiful holiday, but Jesus can't be removed or we've lost the Origin of all Love. Without Him, we are only play-acting at this holiday thing. I encourage you to "find" the Baby this Christmas. Make Him the centre and see how much clearer the world becomes.

 Some are broken from much kid-use :)

 Some are in stables they did not originate from when I bought them.

 Almost all are gifts or second-hand.

 The kids like to mix and match :)

 I came home to one set on the back of the toilet. Someone wanted to make every room special :)

 I like the ones that actually look like the area of the world they are from.

 He teaches her.

 She finds all the Baby Jesus figures.

 She claps at the fun of it all :)

Learning the story at three years old will always help her to know when Jesus is missing.

Live Nativity and Hot Cider

I couldn't keep my hands off this soft, gentle beast today. We had many representatives of the Christmas story all scattered near the backdrop of the nativity at our nursery. There were pony rides and hot cider, a live band, baking and a barbeque hosted by McMaster Children's Hospital, but, I wanted to pull up a seat next to the camel and just watch him all day. All the stories I've heard and things I've read about them just seemed to pale as I gazed upon this light-footed, softly swaying creature. He'd bow and duck his head and let me stroke his silky muzzle. I wished I could have climbed in there and hugged him.

See how lovable he is?

Molly is like Fern in Charlotte's Web. She just quietly observes.

Emily has conversations with the animals. She named every

 one of them. My favourite name she used was "Smash" :)

 

A proud owner strolls the property, making sure his customers are happy.

Meg uses her face painting skills again.

So does Cousin Lauren 

Checking out baby Jesus. We had to un-bury him from the toddlers

who had previously enjoyed tossing straw over him :)

Cousin Alannah helps with coffee and pony ride tickets.

In celebration of MOvemeber :)

Her favourite place to be.

Uncle Kevin arrives on the scene.

This usually leads to some kind of shenanigan. 

 

Cousin Matthew cuts trees and helps customers.

Hiding in the "forest" of evergreens.

 

  

Memories of Christmas events at our nursery will never be forgotten by these kiddos.

 

Stable Love

Every year I pull out the humble stables and the various sets of nativity figures. And every year I have to add another angel, whose wing was chipped when he flew over the cattle (and crashed into the stable), or a new baby Jesus, because his little foot was broken off with all the kid-love. Poor shepherds and gallant wise men don't fare well in this home. They're battered with use. But that's okay with me.

Our little collection of stables is growing and I pray that as small hands send angels flying and Mary and Joseph kissing, that the greatest story ever told is penetrating hearts. That's why our nativity casualties don't bother me anymore. I want my children to remember how they played with those intricate pieces and re-enacted their Saviour's birth again and again.