"There Is Just Something About That Image"

Our church chose to use the shadow of the manger scene this Christmas. 12=5-2018 Perryton, TX

 

I was touched today when I drove by my church and saw this display of the shadows of the manger scene. No strong colors, or bright lights to emphasise the figures. After all there were no electric lights back then, and probably not even a candle light. Jesus was born in a stable with only hay for his manger bed. I suppose his mother lay on the dirt floor of the stable. They were turned away from the Inn because there was no more rooms. This shadow picture made me realize just how uncomfortable the parents of baby Jesus must have been. Had the original manger scene been put up, I probably would not have felt a thing. I have seen it many times in the same styles, and colors. Today I thought oh my, there they are in real life. It became real to me that Jesus was actually born as a babe to save us from our sins. He was born in discomfort, just like he lived, and died in total discomfort. Oh! My God, let us all be moved this Christmas like never before. This could possible be the last birthday we can celebrate of Jesus.

I am trying hard to make Jesus real this Christmas, but the little girl is still in me that makes me want to joke about Santa Clause. I believed in that old guy until I was almost grown. It was so hard to give up the idea that Santa Clause was not real. Then when I did accept it, I wanted to keep up the fun of joking about him. I have played jokes on my family for almost every Christmas of their life. I have another fun joke planed for this Christmas. I especially remember the year that snow was deep all over the ground. My uncle lived in the country so we all went to his house for Christmas. It was hard to fight snowy roads, but we finally got there. We children were told that Santa would be late because of the snow, but he would be coming. Sure enough it was getting late, but not one child was going to sleep without seeing Santa Clause. I think our parents was thinking we would fall asleep, but it didn't happen. They didn't know what to do. Finally we were told Santa was coming, but he had to wrap a quilt around him so he could not hug us like usual. They told us he would leave the presents outside the door. We heard a knock, and we almost killed each other trying to get to the door. When we opened it we saw a big guy with a quilt wrapped all around him, and even his head was covered. He was walking away, but was trying to wave at us without us seeing who he was. It was our grandpa, but we believed it was Santa for years after that. The presents made us forget about not getting to see Santa. At least he had brought them to us.

God Bless

Myrtle Jean Sharp