Christmas Magic and Memories

I'm no Jean Shepherd however I do have my own memories of this time of year. I remember the radiator making that clicking and hissing sound when the heat would come up at night. I remember as the day would come closer I would come home from school and notice the days getting darker and shorter. I remember the front of the newspaper counting down how many shopping days there were til Christmas. And of course, most of all, that magical night when I knew he was on his way with all those glorious surprises he would be leaving under the tree the next morning.

I'm going to add different memories hopefully each week or so to keep this fresh. I hope what I tell about here will bring back some memories for everyone reading. Thanks for stopping by and as always on this site: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Ever since I can remember I have never been comfortable being on a stage or speaking in front of alot of people. I figured sooner or later I would mess up and be laughed at. That is one thing I'm sure I'm not alone in.

Anyway it was Christmas time, I was about 5 yrs old and in Sunday school they were going to have a Nativity play. I was one of the younger kids so I figured I'd be a donkey, stableboy, or maybe a sheperd. To be honest thinking back now I probably wasn't even thinking that. Most likely I was probably hoping not to be in it.

Well, I would be in it all right. I don't know if it was because I was one of the youngest or what. I do know this, I was quiet. I was usually a very quiet child. They decided (the people running the play) despite my being quiet to give me a central role. Not just "a" central role. THE central role. Not one of the three wise men, not even Joseph. No. I was going to play HIM. Yep. Little, shy me was going to play as great a role as could ever be played.

My mother obviously couldn't believe it or then again maybe she could. I didn't at age 5 really realize what a glorious honor this was. I still don't know why I was picked but it was what it was.

In this play He would be a baby but would speak. They would basically from what I can remember stand everyone in a line across the stage and have each of us say a line or two. When my turn came I of course messed it up (gulp). It was something to do with "daily tasks". I remember a guy named Bartholomew (I have no idea if I'm spelling that right) whispering me the right phrase from the side of the stage. Come to think of it there may have been more then one line. When you play Him though one mistake is too much.

I really don't remember much more from that time. Of course I was about 5 so how much could I. But just thinking about it is humbling. It is an ironic twist that me, someone who to this day is not comfortable in front of a group was on a stage playing the greatest part I could possibly play. No one can ever take it away from me. I was about 5 years old but on that night, I was chosen to play my own Savior. Not fully realizing then what an honor it was. I'm no better then anybody else in the grand scope of things but come to think of it, that may have been the greatest night of my life. Getting to represent the one who gave me eternal life on a little stage in Sunday school.

In this life I could never play a greater part .