Thursday, December 9

Nativity

I love this depiction of the birth of Jesus Christ. It's so clean and white and pure and well, perfect. That's what Christmas is suppose to be. Flawless. I bet Mary envisioned the birth of her holy baby to be just as beautiful as this sculpture shows.

But the real nativity was a lot different. It happened in a stinky stable filled with poky straw, domestic animals that slobbered and pooped. There were flies that needed swatting too. There must been sounds of the animals bellowing and probably crowds of people yelling, and arguing. Pretty demeaning for delivering the long awaited Messiah.

Nevertheless, Mary and Joseph met the first Christmas with determination to do the right thing, the right way even with goofy circumstances.

I can take a lesson from the bewildered couple when I decorate, purchase, give gifts, prepare food and entertain, and, and, and... I can make the best of the circumstances to help others and myself feel the love of the Savior everyday in a less than perfect environment. So that Christmas 2010 can feel for those around me as wonderful as I feel from this nativity.