Bmeandering

Bmeandering

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

a simple manger set



a purchase many christmases ago
this manger set graced my parents' home
for their oldest child's first christmas

later the youngest child--me
looked forward to the 'unveiling' each year

i remember carefully unwrapping each figure 
and placing them where i thought best
this became my most cherished christmas responsibility

i was married two days before christmas
so that christmas was not celebrated
in a home of our own

the next christmas we had settled into our first home
time to decorate
the tree and ornaments were easy

but
the manger scene?

mother solved the dilemma for me
she bought a new wooden creche set
and
gave me this simple creche

didn't cost much when bought
but as a little girl i thought it was beautiful

over the years pieces became a bit 'worn'
despite careful handling
but
i cherished them all
still do

it's the only creche i have ever had

each year i carefully unwrap each piece
and place them where i think best

there have been some additions
but no subtractions




this manger scene means the most to me
of all that i have of christmas decorations
for
it's not a decoration

its significance and worth goes much deeper
 representing
the savior who was born in a manger
the christian home in which i grew up
the mother who passed this tradition on
the father who preached the savior's message

but
most of all
love

simple love
manifested in a baby
given to us
by God
so that we might be set free eternally

i rejoice in that love
and
will continue
rejoicing
daily
part of blog carnival on the word rejoice

10 comments:

  1. Love this, Beth - the nativity and your words! I prefer the simple, inexpensive nativities although the fancier ones are beautiful. I always think of the simple, no-frills setting of Jesus' birth.

    And, I, too, rejoice in His redeeming love!

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  2. The best reason ever to rejoice ... evermore!!!

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  3. Absolutely, Beth.... I love your special Nativity.... Mine is special to me also for the same reasons... I carefully wrap and unwrap it every year --and relive its true meaning... THAT is CHRISTMAS for sure!!!!

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  4. good memories and a good post for rejoice.

    sure enjoy the header photo.

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  5. A Nativity of Our Lord with many meanings...I'm so glad you appreciate them all!

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  6. Love this one, Beth. Beautifully done!
    Merry Christmas :)

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  7. Such a poignant story. You told it well...

    P.S. Of course I love the new header photo of Scruffy sleeping in the tissue
    : )

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  8. The Star shone brightly over the place where the Christ Child lay! The Shepards followed that star because it led them to the Savior. The Angels sang out in joyous rapture, Glory to God in the Highest! We too rejoice that Jesus was born, and your humble nativity scene reminds us all to rejoice over all that God has given us.

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  9. I just found that I'm on your blog list.

    THANK YOU SO MUCH!

    ReplyDelete

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