The Christmas Play

Luke 2:7 – And she brought forth her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (KJV)

Who among us can forget the magic and wonderment of putting on "The Christmas Play" that is brought to mind by today's scripture?

As children, we anxiously anticipated the part for which we would be chosen. We'd been learning about it all year and would be on our best behaviour for weeks leading up to the choice to be made. Perhaps it would be Joseph, proudly protecting his "Christmas cargo". Or maybe Mary: would it be me that could carry that special look, who could lay the baby Jesus in the manger, softly stepping back before kneeling at its side? Even as shepherds, we sensed the serenity as we nestled around the makeshift manger on the floor at the front of the church. The script is one we knew well. It was played every year.

My husband reminds me of another time, a time when our kids wrote and put on their own Christmas plays with their friends. Basements became theatres. Sheets served as curtains. Programmes produced plays that had once been scripts scribbled on scraps of paper. "I still have the script if you want it," he says.

What script to the "Christmas Play" shall we choose in our adult life? Will it be one where we remember Christ at Christmas as we've prepared throughout the year? Or will we write our own script where we're caught up in the wonderment and magic of the moment, only to be put away when it's over?

Prayer: May our path to Christ this Christmas carry on throughout the year. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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