When I was a child, setting up the nativity was one of my favorite parts of getting ready for Christmas. I called the collection of shepherds, angels, kings, and the Holy Family “The Manger People”. My parents thought that was pretty funny. When my grandmother, Nana, came to stay on Christmas Eve, I’d bring her over to the crèche that was set up and show her where Jesus would be the next morning, stressing that he wasn’t there yet. Then I’d show her where my father and I had put the three kings. He and I would move them steadily closer until Epiphany on January 6th.
Back on December first, I began writing for Advent with the memory of Nana giving me an Advent calendar every year at Thanksgiving. It’s only right that on Christmas Day I should share another tradition that I owe to Nana. Every Christmas, I think of her as I place the infant Jesus in the crèche of the nativity set she gave me when I graduated from college.
It was an enormous surprise, and I cherish it. When I open the boxes each year, I smile and thank her again in my heart. I gently remove the porcelain figurines and arrange them with care. The kings go to the eastern corner of the room to begin their journey. Jesus goes into temporary hiding. Everyone else waits patiently for the appointed day. Including me.
For Christians, Advent is a time of anticipation and waiting. It’s a time to prepare for both the birth of Christ and His eventual return. Christmas is the Day we celebrate Jesus’ birth and God’s gift to humanity. As we open gifts this morning and prepare the feast we’ll share with friends and family I am mindful of the divine gift bestowed. I’m also grateful for a grandmother who made Christmas extra special every time she came to stay and whose presence is still felt many years after having left this earthly realm.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and I’ll end this post as Nana would if she had written it to one of her grandkids:
“God bless, peace, love you, Nana.”
Read the Advent calendar here:
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Beautiful story. As we get older, the memories of our past become so important to share.
You are so right, Ray. Happy New Year! ~Karen