Where is Jesus?!?

Advent, a time to look forward expectantly to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Each day, the advent calendar ticks off another day, moving my family closer to the real Reason for the season. When I think back to when my boys were little, once the nativity scene was set and the tree was decorated they were in full Christmas mode. The advent calendar helped them mark the days. Each day moved them closer to the goal, Christmas Day. Their first gift of Christmas was found in the advent calendar, Baby Jesus, the final piece of the nativity scene. The boys actually have always had two calendars, one beautiful sparkly one from Grandma and Grandpa to hang on the wall and the calendar that sits on the hall table. It is a large box with twenty-five little doors. Small trinkets or candy fill the tiny spaces. As the boys have grown, I’ve added clues and riddles for them to solve to find hidden gifts in the house. Baby Jesus in the manger was always behind the last little door.

This year we had a problem. When we unpacked the Christmas decorations, Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus were missing. Since many of you have never been to my home, I need to tell you I’m a fairly organized person. Losing the Holy Family was upsetting to say the least. The four of us searched through the boxes to no avail. No Jesus. A manger scene without the star, the leading baby? I don’t think so.

A nativity scene without Jesus is just another barn.

Then I was reminded, Jesus is more than a resin form to set out for the holiday. He cannot be lost. He came to save the world and is represented by so much more than a small piece of a nativity scene. Each Sunday, as Scott, the boys and I light our advent candles, we read from the Gospels of the wonder of His birth. Isaiah and other Old Testament prophesies set the stage for the bigger picture, God’s plan for redeeming His own from the very beginning. The Light will always shine in the darkness.

The Lord cannot be lost, nor can the ones He loves. He lives in our hearts and is active in our lives. Yes, I will find those missing pieces, especially Baby Jesus. But the images are just reminders of the greater Gift, Jesus the greatest Gift of all.

© 2011 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.

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Photo by Chris Sowder on Unsplash