The key to arranging the figures of a manger scene works in life as well

1 min read

"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." -Luke 2:7

I don’t do a lot of decorating for Christmas. To each his own, but for me, it’s one of those “less is more” things.

So, my daughter gave me an inexpensive, miniature nativity scene and suggested that maybe I could put it “somewhere in my office.”

After letting it sit in the box for a couple of days, I decided today was the day. I carefully took the ceramic figures out of the box and placed them on the front of my desk. It’s a fairly large space, so there was plenty of room.

I even added a little wicker Christmas tree off to the side. Decorations complete.

An Epiphany

I had somewhat of an epiphany as I arranged the little pieces of the nativity, which included the angel, Mary and Joseph, the Maggi, and the shepherd.

I looked at the picture on the box for reference, but it occurred to me there was really no way to get the set-up wrong, as long as each character was facing baby Jesus. As long as Jesus was in the center and every other piece was oriented to him, it would look right.

How true this is in life as well. There’s really no way to get it wrong as long as you’re facing Jesus.

So, may God help us to align ourselves with his Son this Christmas and beyond. May he give us grace to turn away from what matters least toward the One who matters most.

May the Lord Jesus not just be in the center of our nativity scene. May he be in the center of our hearts.

It’s a new day with God. Run with it.