I have been feeling very scattered in the last weeks. It is just another part of the grief process that has filled my life right now. As you know, I decided to put up our Christmas tree, but it was a long and hard decision. It was just a couple of days ago that I realized that when I told Ken that all I wanted from the attic was the tree and the ornament boxes, I would NOT have any of my many Nativity sets down from the attic! I have not been able to get that out of my mind since that realization hit me.
As a matter of fact (Ken doesn't know this yet....) I have planned to run out to Hobby Lobby tomorrow and purchase another Nativity set! If you are wondering why we don't just go into the attic and retrieve one of the sets, well.... it is a really big deal to go into our attic! Right now we have a car stored in the garage. And that car would need to be moved out in order to access the attic. It is not easy. So, I just might have a NEW Nativity set this year! Yes, that will make five I think!
All of this has reminded me of this Nativity set. When we first purchased our house, several years before Gwen was born, we started collecting this set. Our first purchase was Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the manger. Over the next years we gradually added Shepherds and sheep, cows and donkey, and the wise men and camels. Eventually Ken built a stable that could collapse and fit along the wall of the garage for storage. We added an angel in the tree one year. We also added a very large star. Ken managed to fix that star onto a long pole which we suspended in our tree, over the manger. It was a very large display for our very small yard. We didn't have to give our address to the pizza delivery people. We just told them to find the house with the big nativity set on our street. It was always a big deal to set this up and get everything to light up properly. The kids were always a part of this set up. We tried to find a warmer day in late November to put this up. There was more than one year that the set got covered with snow and/or frozen to the ground. When the kids got to be high school aged, and no longer interested in helping with this, we stopped putting it out. After a couple of years, we donated the set, hoping it would be used once again. By the time we did this,it was pretty beat up from going in and out of our attic. Just seeing this picture brings a smile to my face. These are precious and good memories.
We actually had a small plastic set that had been Ken's when he was little. I carefully preserved this set and made a stable from a box covered with fabric. It was precious but not something that the kids could touch. The figures were falling apart. One of the best purchases I ever made was the year that I bought the rubber nativity sets. The figures were designed to be used by children. Each piece was less than twenty five cents each. I got two full sets that included all the animals. Gwen and Doug each had their own set and we used a shoe box for the stable. Both of these sets ended up in their beds more than once. It was so good to have a set that they could really play with. I was never able to put these sets away. They stayed out year around.
Yes, I needed this tonight. There is some powerful healing in these memories. This memory has brought me peace. There is something about this remembering exactly what Christmas is all about that calms all that is scattered in me. I am glad that I didn't miss this. I do need to get a new nativity set for my house. It will keep my focus right where it needs to be. On the amazing birth of Jesus so long ago. I will be remembering the whole story and in that, I will be able to celebrate this Christmas.
Jesus, thank you for this special touch tonight and the reminder that your story is cause for great celebration. Holy Spirit, thank you for peace that passes understanding. Thank you for helping me find joy during this season that seems so filled with sorrow. Thank you for the fact that I can just run out and get another Nativity set, not something everyone can do. Jesus, break through the storm of commercialism that bombards us during these weeks. And thank you for Christmas Carols that touch our hearts. Amen
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