the nativity set
We have a small nativity set that my aunt gave to our family several years ago. I put it out with our christmas decorations each year, but it is usually placed up high out of the reach of our children as it is breakable and they are, well, kids.
But I decided this year to put the nativity lower. Within reach. Surrounded by teensy flakes of snow. I fully expected that the boys would take interest in it and that there would probably be snowflakes all over the place, but I didn’t really anticipate what my no. 2 did yesterday afternoon.
First, he rearranged all of the figurines so that they were in a tight circle around baby Jesus. He fixed the snow so it was just right and stood staring at it for a short time.
Next, he went to the table and started a little craft. I thought nothing of it. He has a short attention span and moves from activity to activity like a whirlwind.
Only later did I realize that my sweet boy’s craft time consisted of taping a star to the amaryllis plant.
Because every nativity scene needs a star.
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
“the magi went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2
It is hard to find ways to keep our focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas. I love the carols, the lights, the shopping and decorating, the baking and parties. I even love santa. But most of all, I love Jesus. And I want so badly for my children to love him too.
My son making a star for the manger scene tells me he gets it. In his own six-year-old way, he cared enough about the story to make it right.
When I saw that star, I was overjoyed.
Heidi Biggs
What an awesome story. It’s amazing how our little ones absorb the things we’re never sure they quite grasp. And then they turn around and touch our hearts with it. I wouldn’t normally share this, but since it’s Christmas…our 2 year old isn’t much of a talker, which we’ve really worried about over the past year. But somewhere along the line he’s learned to read. We caught him on video reading the Christmas story. I think you can see it here. http://youtu.be/78mbjK4mPmQ
Merry Christmas!
Tiffany Day
precious – absolutely precious – kids are amazing – its a testament that you and your husband are truly teaching them
happy friday!
xoTiffany
traci
That is so precious!!!
shelley johannes
beautiful. yes, that is what we want for our children. i’ve found myself praying for their young hearts more and more lately.
Stephanie Tracy
That is so precious! You’ve done a great job Mama! Christmas blessings to you and your’s <3
Susan Huls
Precious children. The most meaningful and beautiful things come from them.
Anna
very sweet. I collect Nativity scenes and love your tray with snow. I need this for one of my sets. One year we took the star for the top of the tree that had lights in it and hung it on a nail over our Nativity.(I also leave one Nativity on a shelf by my drafting table where I create year round and my big set stays out until Valentines day- the symbol of true love.) I love your story…………
Lemonade Makin Mama
YOu’re obviously doing something right… way to go Mama!
Melanie
Love this so much… tear
Proverbs 22:6
Amy @ A New Old House
That is so sweet!
I think a nativity is a wonderful way for kids to understand the Christmas Story. I bought a Fontanini set that looks like glass, but is really a rubber/plastic material since I knew I wanted the kids to play with it ’til their heart’s content! (And my parents’ set had the heads glued back on more times than I can count!)
Theresa~
That was so sweet, it reminds me of a scripture in Isaiah…’a little child shall lead them’. What a beautiful reminder of what this wonderful season is truly about. If all blogs, advertisements, music, conversations, etc. were truly focused on Jesus Christ we would be living in a more happy and peaceful world. Give your child a hug for me for touching my heart. Merry Christmas!
Susie at ProsperityStuff
Beautiful! How special that your little guy “gets it”! When I was little, my mom had a similar breakable nativity scene … she decided to let it be within reach of us kids, and that made it all the more special and memorable. Fast-forward two or three decades … my Saturday blog post (tomorrow) has pictures of the two nativity scenes we have out right now. Where the kids can touch them …
amber
How precious! That is one of the many things that I love about having children – seeing things through their eyes; how they are learning, understanding, and processing, and many times helping us to see more clearly and deeply. Thank you for sharing!
Hayden
So exciting to see our kids learn about Jesus and come to love Him! That is my daily prayer for my own children that they will know the love and sacrifice…that God would give up His own son for us so that we might have life!!! Thanks for sharing through the eyes of your child!
Sue Schneider
Your post really resonated with me. Thank you for sharing it with us. If you have time, please send up a prayer that my granddaughter, who is 2, learns to love Jesus, too. It’s hard when the parents don’t seem to care that much. But, God’s love is so much bigger and can overcome that obstacle and maybe even bring them to faith someday!
joy
That is so cool! I love that too…don’t you just love when they “get it”? My girls are 15 and almost 17 now but my youngest can.not.wait. to get her hands on our little “precious moments” (I think it was a wedding gift–20 years ago) nativity set. The people are only about an inch tall but she painstakingly puts it up every year, moving, arranging, moving, arranging…til she has it right where she thinks it’s best seen and loved. I think she gets it too
Sarah Fink
Love this post!!!
Rebekah Pogue
This sweet story brings tears to my eyes. Such a simple gesture. Such a big heart impact. Thanks for sharing.
On a personal note, I stumbled upon your blog, and realized you were an APU RA on Adams, my freshmen year, when I was on Alissa’s floor. Small world! I love seeing how God is using your gift of writing.
Bekah Pogue
bekahpogue.blogspot.com
Elizabeth
This is so sweet! Thanks for the reminder!
Chantel
oh, that is so precious! bring tears to my eyes. a true testament to the wonderful way you are showing him God’s love. thank you for sharing this. Merry Christmas!!!
Susanna
This brought tears to my eyes. How very special. <3 Thank you for sharing!
aprairiegirlincalifornia
This is so precious. YOu must be a wonderful mum and example:)
Claire
My 2 year old got his 1st nativity for his birthday on the 4th of this month! He seems to know just how precious the gift was and is. Thank you for sharing what I have to look forward to. But I am wondering where in the world your aunt found that nativity. It is the most gorgeous! Please tell if you don’t mind sharing!
Kathryn
that just totally made me tear up! How beautiful. Now that’s what Christmas is all about. I love how kids get it – my kids want a nativity scene, on the roof (????), with a big huge (lit-up) star and an angel, and I’m supposed to make it
Merry Christmas!!!
Jenny - Sugar Loco
how did you not bawl your eyes out? so beautiful!!
Tamara
What a sweet story – it made me smile! I bet seeing that made your heart so happy. I hope you guys have a wonderful Christmas!
Kelli
That is a beautiful story. I love Jesus as well and want my little boy to love Him, too, so this brought tears to my eyes along with a prayer that these little ones might continue to seek out The Baby this season and as they grow.
Lindsay
Wow, Emily…what a beautiful story! I’ve been thinking to myself how easy it is to get lost in all the Christmas magic and forget that it is truly about Jesus. Thank you for this sweet reminder today!
michelle
now that is just surreal, so wonderful!
Lindsay Kinnick
*sniff*. Precious. Thank you for sharing!
Kyrie
How precious. “Out of the mouths of children…”
Thanks for sharing this sweet story. It brought tears to my eyes! If only we were all more like children!
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
-Kyrie<
sara @ it's good to be queen
wow. i’m teary eyed…God is so. good. to us…… to give us those little moments to hold on to in the midst of all the crazy that is motherhood. so thankful to be encouraged by other mama bloggers who want to teach their babies to love Jesus. thank you for sharing.
Jamie Harris
Oh my. You will carry that in your heart forever. Thank you so much for sharing. We have a precious nativity, too. I keep it low and they rearrange it from time to time. Years ago, I bought the Playmobil nativity set. Just when I thought they might be getting too old for it, my two youngest (10 and 8) squealed when they saw it this year and went right to work on it. Jesus is in the little things and our little ones rarely miss that! Merry Christmas!
heidi
…and a little child shall lead them.
Jane
Thank you for this post – it was so sweet and made me smile!
michelle
SO precious!!! that made my day…and love, love his little heart!
Jennifer
tears!! how sweet!
Victoria
Brady continues to be the one in the family who is full of surprises – tender and sensitive – while bashing things about on his off-time! Oh, Brady, I love you very much and am thankful that you show us what is going on inside that little head of yours. Good things, indeed.
grandma
Natasha
Heartwarming.
Torie
SUCH a sweet story. Thank you for sharing. I too, want my daughter to fully understand the story of Christmas. I must say the hullabaloo surrounding presents and Santa make me cringe.
Janna H
What a beautiful story!! Thank you for sharing!
Robin
There are no raises, promotions, or awards in the job of parenting. This is far better than any of those things. The moments that affirm that you are doing something right. Sometimes those moments are rare — enjoy this. Good job Mom & Dad and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Kellyb
This post totally made me cry! So so sweet!! Merry Christmas to you and yours
. Thank you for the precious reminder of the reason for our season. xoxo
Ashley
That is so heart warming! What a wonderful job you are doing raising your babes! I love to hear stories like this, thanks so much for taking the time to share. My son just turned 4 and its amazing how much information they retain. I have been getting the crazy why and how questions from my Mason. For instance, last night we had breakfast for dinner (one of my favs!) and he was telling us that eggs come from chickens and then all of a sudden he had this concerned look on his face and said there are baby chickens in the eggs! Very soon after he asked “why do we eat the baby chickens” so matter of factly that it seemed not to bother him. I hope I get better at this question & answer game as time goes on because my answer to him was “There are lots of chickens and God gave them to us to eat”. ugh, what? haha. It was good enough for him and I guess its the truth
but seriously, nobody should ever ask me to write a book about these things. Oh, and Mason called me mom the other day and I just about cried. HE IS ONLY 4! I told him that wasn’t my name, it was “mommy”. Im holding out as long as I can! Anyways, I hope y’all have a Merry Christmas!
Carol
I know this made your Christmas and I thank you for sharing the story with all of us. When you least expect it our children take our breath away. Merry Christmas!!
bevy
tearing up reading this. so beautiful. this is proof you’re raising your kiddos right.
Ashleigh
I got chills reading this. Thank you for reminding us why we really celebrate this holiday!
Karlie Riess Munro
All I can say is this is the most sweetest touching Christmas story I’ve ever heard!
Janette
God bless us, everyone. Thank you for sharing.
Nicoly
Wow, that moved me to tears…sweet boy!