We always had a nativity scene set up in our home as part of our Christmas decorations. When the children were small we had a child friendly set with each of the figures made out of felt filled with beans so the children could play with the them without breaking it.

When the girls were small we would set up the manger without baby Jesus in it. The girls would do their chores and try to do nice things for each other or for us to earn some soft hay to put in the manger to make baby Jesus a soft bed. The hay was usually straw from the broom but they were so happy to be helping baby Jesus. Occasionally big sister Becky would tell her little sister that they were helping baby Moses. Baby Jesus would make his appearance on Christmas morning to a manger filled with straw from the deeds of loving children and we would all share his birthday cake.

As the children grew older I used to find other things that were new and different at the manger. One year instead of an angel announcing the birth perched on the front of the stable I found a Superman action figure standing on the stable roof ready to take on any evil doers.

One year the wise men travel from the east following the star on a Tonka truck. The following year the wise men arrived at the stable bearing machine guns. One year the wise men didn't arrive at all....I found them after Christmas still in the box and was informed that they wouldn't be arriving for another year or year and a half after the birth so they really shouldn't be at the stable at all. Most of this Manger Mischief occurred while I was at work and the kids always waited anxiously for me to notice their alterations.

We laugh at these stories now but I am glad that our children were raised to know the true meaning of Christmas and felt an intimacy with story.

Labels: Monday memories