Christmas Pageant

As a child, this time of year meant one for sure thing—our Christmas play. Our music teacher was very religious and the Christmas play was important to her.

One year the major part of the play was that we sang all the way through the Christmas story.

I don't know which song we began with. It could have been, 'Away in the Manger', but I remember singing, 'Shepherds Watched Their Flocks' as one of the first songs, as well as 'We Three Kings'.

Last night we attended some of our Grandchildren's Christmas program. As I watched I wondered what the current crop of children thought as they sang their way through the program.

I wonder what kind of memories will these children carry with them into adulthood? Some of the kids had songs they sang, some had parts to say, the themes they have now days are...different.

They were not constrained by many of the newsworthy outlandish rules that I've heard from across the country. We still say Merry Christmas and Santa. Kids are still thankful for presents, vacations, sledding, fudge and Christmas dinner.

I watch as my grandkids grow up. Sometimes I'd like to slow things down so we can savor their lives. Somewhat like I've heard moms and dads say, 'Slow down and chew your food. So you can enjoy it you know.'

Who would have thought, here it is two thousand years after the birth of the Savior and we're still trying to get it right.

Matthew 1:18 "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19) And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20) But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."