Well, we did it. It may have got a bit patchy toward the end but tonight we ushered Mary and Joseph along the road to Bethlehem and into the stable where she laid the baby Jesus in a manger (‘Probably quite prickly Mummy’.)
I’m just about to sit down with himself and have a big feed while watching The Nativity story. The kids are in bed having set out their plate for Santa:
Caleb was most insistent that we leave a note so that Santa knew who the carrot was for. He also was slightly concerned about the fire.
‘Oh Mummy! If the fire is lit then Santa won’t be able to get down the chimney. He will burn himself and die and go to heaven!’……pause, sound of cogs turning in head……..’Hmmmm, but maybe then when I grow up I could be Santa?’. There is a machiavellian streak in this boy.
As planned, we began the tradition of opening a present from under the tree containing pyjamas. This was a big hit. Elijah was so delighted with his Postman Pat pj’s that he shouted “Let’s get naked!’ and immediately began stripping off to make way for his new jammies. Overheard: ‘Elijah, you look fabulous in your new jammies. You look like you’re going to get married.’
Then ‘The Grinch’ with hot milk and xmas cookies.
We end where we began, with this funny looking home-made tree but having walked a ways through history, watched and waited while the universe prepared itself to bear forth it’s Creator. We bear witness to the light that we have seen brighten and dim through Israel’s history, to God’s faithfulness to a feckless nation, to his grace and mercy breaking into the lives of the most unlikely characters.
And to Jesus, word made flesh. A saviour, a deliverer. He who brings life and hope, healing and wholeness, rescue, forgiveness and who loves us like no other.
Welcome Immanuel, we’ve been a long time waiting.










