And a Child Shall Lead Them . . .

I have several Nativity's that I set out in our home each year during the Christmas season. Several are kid friendly and the kiddos can play with & rearrange until their hearts content.  There is one however that I have told the kiddos if off limits, Mom is allowed one "special" thing in the house, it is the Willow Tree Nativity.  I let the kiddos help me get it out of the boxes and then it is off limits.  They have always readily obeyed . . . until this year.

 

Last week, it seemed that every time I looked at it the figures were in a new spot, each day getting closer & closer to Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus.  I knew the culprit, Miss Sarah.  I reminded her that we do not touch this Nativity and then returned all the figures to their spots, looking so elegant atop the book shelf.

 

Just a bit ago I looked over and once again the figures had moved. . .

 

. . . the camel is about as close as he can get, with the Wise men pushed a bit to the side. The donkey kindly gave up his cherished spot at the feet of Mary to allow the sheep to line up humbly and adore the Baby.  Yet all the figures have their eyes toward Jesus.

My heart smiled a bit as I noticed Sarah's careful & thoughtful placement of the figures.  Then it hit me that each time I have seen one of my kiddos arrange a Nativity for me all the figures face Baby Jesus.  Sometimes that means we see the backs of heads and Baby Jesus is completely surrounded.

I think there are a  few lessons here for this Mommy to learn:

The figures move and take turns as to who gets to be up close. They want no one to be left out of coming to adore the Christ Child.

 

They are not concerned with how things look, but instead are concerned with conveying a message.

 

That message I heard loud and clear today . . . The story of Christ's birth is real to them & they want to share their love of Christmas in their own sweet & tender way.  They (Sarah), perhaps unconsciously are trying to remind me what is truly important, the Savior and that my life, our home & family needs to be centered on Him!

 

Thank you, my dear sweet Sarah!

Merry Christmas!