Livin Lively

By Peggy Lively

Several days ago, I received this email and picture from a friend:

“Yesterday, I set out a beautiful Nativity my friend gave me. I put it in
the typical arrangement... baby Jesus in the middle, Mary and Joseph on
either side, angel behind Jesus and the shepherds and others flanking the
family. This morning, my daughter Audrey wanted me to see how she had re-arranged it.

She had placed them as she thought they should be with baby Jesus in the middle and the

others circled around Him in adoration. I have attached a
picture for you. It may become our family tradition to always place Jesus
this way. How is it that my 5 year old is teaching me so much about the
true spirit of Christmas?! May my heart be centered on Him this Christmas
season. It is so easily distracted with traditions, to-do lists and
busyness!”
 

I read this email and replied to my friend, but did not share it with anyone in my family. So you can imagine my surprise when I walked into my study the next day and found my nativity set re-arranged in a circle with baby Jesus in the middle.

I immediately thought my eight year old daughter had done it, so I asked her about it. But she said it wasn’t her. So next I thought it might have been my 6 year old son, but he said it wasn’t him either. As I continued my investigation, I discovered that it was my 13 year old son. For some reason, this thrilled my heart even more to know it was him. I am so thankful that my teenage son “gets” the real meaning of Christmas, and that he would take the time to re-arrange everyone around baby Jesus.

 Let’s circle up around our Savior this season. Make an extra effort to center everything around Him. O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Merry Christmas!