Putting away the Manger

 

I just love Christmas productions.  I love the patched together...imperfect...off key humans all coming together with the same desire to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  With limited skill, limited time, limited resources and ability, congregation after congregation offer up their "loaves and fishes" to the multitude.  These loving offerings are received into our hearts with endearment.  We are modern day followers of that star in the East; modern day souls who shepherd and seek wisdom and who are walking on that path to the savior of us all.  It's a beautiful thing.

I also love setting up Christmas.

Seeing the warmth of the room increase with the ornamented Christmas tree, stockings by the fireplace and a garland gracing the mantel, brings a feeling of peace to my heart.

As I was setting up Christmas, I was marveling about how amazing it is that this Christmas story didn't stay in Israel but has been a strong tradition in almost the whole world for a very long long time. The story was told and passed down and celebrated over and over again. As I thought about the beginning of Jesus life, I thought about the Wisemen, also called Magi and also known as Kings. 

Tradition tells us these kings were richly dressed and brought expensive gifts.  They must have also been well educated in order to understand the stars in the sky and notice the star of Bethlehem because even King Herod and his advisors didn't notice a new star. They were indeed very wise men because they seemingly had studied the prophecy's about the Savior's birth and had been watching for the sign.

So then what about the shepherds? They were of humble means, not rich or educated but they too learned about this great event via an angel who gave them the good news. 

No matter our role in life we still have Jesus. He is, in a way, all those things in the story. He was born in a manger which is a trough where animals go to eat or drink. This is so fitting because He is the Bread of Life and Living Water. We partake of these emblems with the sacrament.  Jesus is not only wise but He is our King of Kings and also our Good Shepherd.  We still have a star, or signs to watch for and to guide us to where Jesus is. We still have angels with us. This sweet story that was... still is!

The timing of things is interesting.  Even though Jesus was born in the spring, it seems fitting and even symbolic to celebrate His birth just before a brand new year. We celebrate, then put it all away as we enter something new.  Emily Belle Freeman says that putting away the manger is like Jesus leaving that stable and going about His work just like we do.

Yes, as much fun as it is to set up Christmas, I love taking it down. After an exhausting season filled to the brim, it feels so good to clean and put things away for a time and move onto something new...the next "square". 

Speaking of something new, Chris and I were playing the game of Life, an old board game, with the grandkids earlier this month. As we all drove our little cars around the board from square to square, landing on paydays and bankruptcies, winning a prize, paying taxes, going back to start etc. I realized something. This temporary life here on this planet is really like this board game! It's full of challenges and blessings and I'm on a totally different square today than I once was on. In a coming day I'll be on yet another square. This may seem like "duh" to you but it gave me a new perspective. When we get discouraged just think to yourself "it's ok, this is just the square I'm on at the moment. I'll be on another square soon" then be patient. It takes quite awhile to drive the whole game board and get to the safe place...the grand estate at the end. I have a feeling it'll be worth it!