A Chrisrmas Memory

[FrBrGr]

Like it or not, believe it or not. The ads are out, the displays are up, and everyone (at least here in the USA) who has anything to sell is vying for the dwindling number of dollars that will be spent on Christmas presents this year. I hope not many retailers have pinned their hopes on blockbuster sales this year. They will be the next to sidle up to the public trough and beg for taxpayer dollars.

 

That's not what I'm posting about, though.

 

Christmastime, although it comes earlier every year, always brings back a flood of memories. One of those memories - and among my proudest moments as a parent came during the children's Christmas pageant at our church. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine!

 

My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes."

 

On the night of the pageant, he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes."

 

My four-year-old "Mary" said, "That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."

 

A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel,

who bent her halo and lost her left wing.

 

I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the steps to the stage crying, "Mama-mama!"

 

"Mary" grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived.

 

My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, "We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."

 

The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation.

 

"I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one," laughed our pastor, as he wiped tears from his eyes. "For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur."

 

Neither will I . . .

 

Let me be the first to wish you, "Merry Christmas!"