We believe the reason to celebrate Christmas centers around the birth of Jesus Christ. The nativity is a representation of that. On December 6th, Scout had found a clever spot to hide. This was not where my kids would have looked. They never would have guessed that he would be visiting one of our nativity sets. Along with him, he left a note mentioning to our family how the nativity represents the meaning of Christmas. That meaning, he said, is the most important of all. This hiding spot and note did encourage some dialog with my kiddos. For instance, they asked some questions about nativity.
The Note from Scout:
GREETINGS, FAMILY!
I AM ENJOYING MY TIME WITH YOU. THERE ARE SO MANY TRADITIONS, MEANINGS AND ACTIVITIES WITH THIS TIME OF YEAR. REMEMBER ALWAYS THAT THIS, RIGHT HERE, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. GOD SENT HIS SON, JESUS, TO THE EARTH AS A BABY. CHRISTMAS IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH. FROM LUKE 2 IN THE NEW LIVING TRANSLATION BIBLE:
7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.
11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
I DO LOVE IMAGINING THAT WHEN I READ IT. CHRISTMAS IS WONDERFUL FOR MANY REASONS, BUT THIS IS THE BEST AND MOST IMPORTANT REASON. REMEMBER THAT ALWAYS!
-SCOUT
“After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.” (Matthew 2:9-12, NLT)