The Nativity

“Mama, it’s Christmas time again!” Little Angelina Wart was excited. “I love the new decoration that Grandma Sue put on my ears this year, don’t you, Mama? I’m the only one who got something new, aren’t I, Mama?”

Mama Wart smiled. “Yes, dear, you are the only one who got something new, and I must say, it is very becoming on you!”

Angelina expression suddenly turned serious. “Mama, can I ask you a question?”

Once again Mama smiled. This little wart was always full of questions. “Of course, Love, what is it that is troubling you on this rainy day? Are you worried about your new ear decoration getting wet?” Mama was watching with concern as her two sons, Hiram and Harold, were stomping in rain puddles and sending water spraying over the entire balcony.

“Oh!” exclaimed Angelina, “I never even thought about that! Do you think it will be okay with all this rain coming down?” Angelina looked at her mama with concern.

“Yes, honey, it will be just fine. But, you know of course, even it is wasn’t, Grandma Sue would replace it with something new. That’s why you got something new this year–the little flower that you had disappeared with the wind, and now you have those beautiful berries! There is no reason to be worried.”

“Oh, thank you, Mama, you are so right as always. Grandma Sue takes good care of us, doesn’t she? But that is not the question I wanted to ask you about. I wanted to ask you about the other figures that Grandma Sue always puts out here with us at Christmas. I don’t understand what that is about, Mama. They look very sweet, especially the baby one.”

Mama raised her eyebrows. “You mean you really don’t know who that is?” Angelina shook her head and looked puzzled.

“That is Baby Jesus! Well, not the real Baby Jesus, but it’s a figure to represent Jesus. Grandma Sue puts it here each Christmas to remind everyone that Jesus was born at Christmas time to show God’s love for the world.” Mama watched Angelina to be sure she understood.

“Oh! So is that his Mama and Papa with him?” Angelina asked with excitement.

“Yes, it is! And the wise men who came to bring Him gifts and the shepherd who heard about Him from the angels and came to see Him for himself. This is called a Nativity.”

“Oh, Mama, a Nativity! I love it so much–especially now that I know what it is all about!”

“Yes, we all love The Nativity, but it is just the beginning of a much bigger story, Angelina.”

“Oh, Mama! Tell me the big story, please!” Angelina’s eyes were shining with wonder.

Just then Papa Wart came blustering up and said in his booming voice, “What’s this about a story? Is dear Mama about to tell a story?”

Mama laughed, “Well, I was just explaining to Angelina about The Nativity, and told her that it is only the beginning of a bigger story.”

“Oh yes, my dear little daughter,” Papa kissed Angelina on her cheek. “But not just a big story–The Greatest Story of all Time!”

Mama shot a look at Papa as Angelina began to jump up and down with excitement. “Yes, Papa, that is right, but for now, I think it is best if we just focus on the fact that Baby Jesus was born so that God could show His Love for a world that needed Him so much. Don’t you agree? The rest of the story can wait until Angelina gets a little older, right?”

“Oh, yes, of course, Mama,” Papa blustered away in his booming voice again. “That is exactly right! And I know just what we need to do to celebrate this new information that Angelina has learned today. Hiram! Harold! Get out of those puddles and come over here! We are all going to sing a special song of Christmas about Baby Jesus as we share this balcony with The Nativity characters. Are you ready?”

Just as Papa was about to sing, Harold shouted, “Look!” and pointed to the sky.

“Ah,” said Papa. “It is so like God to send us a rainbow just as we are ready to sing a song about Jesus.” Everyone smiled as Papa sang out loudly, and soon the whole family was singing together into the evening sky as they admired The Nativity and the rainbow.