Balance in the Season

By:  Diana Manley Rockwell

Sometimes we are the only witness our extend family will see at the holiday season about what the season is really about. My mother passed away when I was twenty-five years old and one of my treasured possessions is a nativity scene with a Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, three wise men, shepherds, and sheep. Each year I displayed the nativity scene with pride. The only one that loved it as much as I did was my niece. She would play with the baby Jesus when she came to my house. One year I gave her a baby Jesus but it was not the same. It had to be the same baby Jesus that was with this nativity scene.
In Luke 2:5 we read why Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem. They had to go and be registered for a census and then there was no room for them in the Inn. So Mary gave birth in the stable and laid our precious Lord in a manager. So I taught Melissa, her brother and my sons the song, “Away in a Manager.”
Each year, Melissa loved that baby Jesus. Then one day she accepted Jesus as her Savior. I still remember the day. How about you… do you love baby Jesus? Have you asked Jesus to be your Savior? If I came to your home would I know that you love Jesus? Beloved, is there enough balance between Santa and celebrating the real reason for the season? What is your favorite Christmas Carol? What is your favorite decoration? My favorite Christmas verse is Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”