My mom once told me a rather amusing story from my childhood. Each year, during the season of Advent, our family (like many Christian families) would decorate the house in anticipation of Christmas. Part of that preparation included the display of several, traditional nativity scenes. Like most children, I was always fascinated by our decorations. But, being a particularly reflective child, I was most interested in the nativity figures, which more than anything else symbolized the importance of Christ’s birth.

According to my mom, there were a couple of years during my childhood when the baby Jesus would regularly turn up missing from one of the scenes. And, on each occasion, she found it in my possession – either tight in my grasp or mixed in with my other toys. Several times, my mother tried to explain to me that baby Jesus should stay in the manger. But, the message wasn’t sticking, and my disobedience continued.

Perhaps, this was my first attempt at claiming the message of the gospel for myself. Maybe I was just rebelling. I guess that I will never truly know. Still, I continue to like nativities. Each year, I proudly display a Lenox version that Kara and I purchased together as a married couple. I am particularly fond of it. And, each year, when I unwrap the baby Jesus, I remember my mom’s story.

During this Advent season, may God bless you with new memories. And may you be reminded with joy of the years gone by.

Peace, Jon Hauerwas