Tuesday, December 22, 2009

in a manger

"And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,  and laid him in a manger."    Luke 2:7

I brought this nativity set home from a visit I made to Israel about 35 years ago when I was a college student. It's made from the wood of an olive tree.

When I saw the olive wood nativity sets for sale there, I thought that would be the perfect souvenir and I looked carefully for just the right one that was in my price range. I hated having to bargain for a price, but endured it to get what I wanted. It looks kind of crude now. But at the time I was thrilled to find it.

I’ve put it out every Christmas since that time.

Having a nativity set that kids can handle is a good idea, but in spite of that, one wise man has lost his hand somehow.

Baby Jesus also had to get a new bed because his disappeared. His original manger was an oval shape with notched edges. My mother gave this one to me when she saw my poor Jesus with no bed. It’s from a nativity set she got in Mexico. Isn’t that just like a mom? I wonder where her poor baby sleeps.