Sitting around tables in the sanctuary of our church, the congregation expectantly watched the annual Christmas pageant put on by the Sunday School children.  Adorable fancy dresses and dapper dress shirts and bow ties adorned the cute little cherubs.  They gathered on the stage, some in costumes and others dressed as modern-day children.  A "Grandpa" (aged 12) sat in a rocking chair with his "grandchildren" at his feet, listening to a story.  As Grandpa read the Christmas story, the various actors came on stage to portray shepherds, angels, wise men, Mary and Joseph.  Most everyone memorized their lines; some needed prompting from the sidelines.

Even the mistakes were cute!  The angel Gabriel, played by another 12-year-old boy, had rehearsed going up on stage behind some room dividers.  Between practice on Saturday and the actual play on Sunday, someone had blocked his path to the stage.  So after two or three attempts, Gabriel just went up in from of everyone and hid behind the decorations and the cross!  When he jumped out and made his pronouncement that a child was born in Bethlehem, everyone was surprised - except me!  I had seen him the whole time enjoyed his confident flexibility and adaptation!

Another little gal, maybe 5 years old, had no trouble with stage fright.  She felt at home in front of everyone, standing as close to the microphone as possible, rearranging some of the Christmas decorations and not wanting to exit the stage when her song was over.  Parents and grandparents beamed with pride or shook their heads and smiled at the little miscues.  It was the perfect narrative of the nativity!

I remember the programs our kids were part of, the Christmas eve candlelight services we participated in when we pastored the inner city church.  Our aim was to create a family atmosphere for those who had no families or were trying to escape their broken pasts and rebuild their lives in Christ.  Candy bags, twinkling lights and a manger built by the ex-gang members in our woodworking program made for  unique memories.

What does Jesus think of all our festivities surrounding His birth?

Zephaniah 3:17 shows us the way a father feels towards his children.  "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will exult over you with loud singing."  How proud and pleased is our Father when He sees us with heartfelt praise and activities of honour to His Name.  We are no more able to put on a perfect "pageant" of life for the Father than our kids can perform flawlessly in a Christmas play!  

So, my friends, rest in the love of God and receive His quiet and joyful celebration of Christ in you!