I love the children’s Christmas plays. They are never a disappointment.
If they know their lines; if they don’t know their lines
If they remember the songs and actions; if they don’t remember the songs and actions
If the kid playing the angel is an angel; if the kid playing the angel is far from angelic
If Baby Jesus is a real, live baby; if Baby Jesus is a Cabbage Patch doll wrapped in a tea towel
How many wise men have given gold, franks and sense, and fur to Baby Jesus?
How many times have we harked to hear Harold the angel sing?
How else would we ever have come to know and love Round John Virgin (mother and child)?
My personal favorite:
Joseph: Please, sir.
Innkeeper: No room. Go ‘way!
Joseph: Please, sir.
Innkeeper: No room. Go ‘way!
Joseph: Please, sir, my wife. She goin’ to have a baby.
Innkeeper: OK. You can stay with the aminals.
It doesn’t matter if the kids are animated, have stage fright, are the very best actors ever, or if they just stand and pick their noses. We love them and love the performance. We clap and cheer. We are so proud of them. They are doing what we wish we could do. They are conveying to others their knowledge of the Savior with elegant simplicity and unique charm.
Unknowingly, by their participation, they have also expressed their willingness to have this replayed at family gatherings every year — year after interminable year. Life’s little embarrassments caught on tape (or digital recording) FOREVER.
“She looks so cute in her shawl.”
“Look! He’s wearing his mother’s bathrobe!”
“Wait! He’s telling everybody the innkeeper’s name is Fred!”
“Yep, that’s the year the twins played Baby Jesus. When Jacob started crying, they swapped him out for his sister.”
“Listen! This is the part when she says Santa’s power instead of Satan’s power!”
“There she is, the Virgin Mary — chewing bubble gum.”
But don’t you love it? Our children are learning the greatest story ever told. They are hearing about the shepherds who receive a birth announcement from an angel. They are memorizing scripture. They are shouting, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will to men!” They are being made aware of the humble beginnings of our Lord on this earth and how even kings from a far-away land came to worship Him and bring Him gifts.
I love the children’s Christmas plays. They are never a disappointment.
“…Kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” — Psalm 148:11-13 (NIV)
I'm Fantastic! 