Nativity Mix-ups

Certain stories are always repeated at Christmas: “The Sound of Music”, “Charlie Brown” and the time Uncle So-and-so set the tree on fire. Every family has their stories. Mine laughs about my brother getting stuck in the sofa bed. We folded him up in there as a joke, but then couldn’t get him out. My sister and I cried hysterically at the time, thinking we had just killed our mother’s firstborn. Now it’s just a fun part of Christmas conversation – as are our many misrepresentations of the Nativity. My mother loves to tell how I tried so hard (being the drama queen that I am) to provide an accurate portrayal of Luke 2. As my brother read, “Mary pondered all these things in her heart,” I fiercely beat my chest, pounding all that I could into my heart. As the next generation grows, so does our collection of stories.

We recently purchased a ‘Little People’ nativity set for the kids. I was so excited to give it to them and share the story of Christmas once again. Isabel loved it and listened intently. She especially liked pushing the angel to hear ‘Away in a Manger.’ My girl immediately started learning the song. When I re-entered the room a few minutes later, I heard her sing: “… the little bird Jesus go sleep in the hay!”

“Honey, it’s not ‘little BIRD’. It’s ‘little LORD Jesus.’”

“No, Mama. Little BIRD. See?” With a ballet-like flourish, she gestured toward the little plastic palm tree, now holding a colorful toucan borrowed from Noah’s ark.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Oh, you’ve got a bird in the tree, huh?”

“A PEAR tree!”

Yes, we’ve got a new story: the little bird Jesus in a pear tree.