A Virgin Mary with pink hair.
A Joseph with 3 googley eyes because, “one is a nose,” (that somehow became misplaced above his eyes).
A manger of popsicle sticks for baby Jesus to lie in.
A shepherd with one mean unibrow, untamed facial hair and two cotton ball sheep.
Two wismen and one wise-woman of Orient traveling afar.
The Angel Gabriel, with the most beautiful eyelashes you’ve ever seen.
And a shiney blue star because “I don’t want a yellow one.”
This Christmas week has been a challenging one to say the least. It’s been one filled with illness, a rollercoaster of emotions, uncertainty as to if we’d get to see family, and lots of tears.
And yet somehow, I wanted the kids to be reminded that at the end of the day, as disappointing as things have been, the reason this season exists is because of God’s unwavering love for this world. The reason we exchange gifts isn't because of Santa, but rather because it represents the gifts the three kings first brought to God’s one and only Son. I wanted them to be reminded that Christmas Day exists not because of a man in a red suit, but because it’s the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus, Christ our Savior.
And so, toilet paper rolls and craft supplies and sparkly paper and hot glue guns were gathered. For the first time over the past few days, the kids came together without argument, and took turns sharing supplies across the kitchen table as they decoupaged outfits and recreated faces for characters from that very first Christmas. We put on old Christmas hymns, and sang in our own unique angelic chorus “We Three Kings,” and “What Child is This,” and “The First Noel.”
Once the final details were added and secured, we collected our toilet paper rolls and the three of us eagerly gathered around. The kids smiled and giggled, hopping characters around as they each made their grand appearance in the reenactment of that first Christmas Day. They each took turns playing Gabriel, loudly announcing Jesus’ coming to various characters. They smiled with pride as if they’d been rehearsing their lines for weeks, and not just had them whispered in their ears by mom moments before.
When Jake woke from a nap (perhaps the biggest sign of the week’s trials) the kids were so proud to show off their creations! And while words of excitement spilled from their lips, my heart was filled with pride and joy at the thought of how perfectly our imperfect toilet paper roll Christmas, represented what this season is truly about.
This season is about a birth, that in many ways, was like our rendition of the nativity. It was impromptu. It was unexpected. It was simple. It involved imperfect people. And yet, like our nativity, the birth brought people together. It was a moment that changed the hearts of the people involved. It was a picture of grace. And most importantly, it made God’s perfect and beautiful love tangible in the form of a baby, named Jesus.
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