Nativity Scene Revisited

brendaknightgraham

Nov 30

The nativity scene is all set in our front yard, thanks to many helpful hands. The crude stable holds the Baby Jesus in a manger, Mary kneeling beside him and Joseph standing tall and protective, staff in hand. Outside the stable one shepherd kneels, another stands holding his staff. A donkey, a cow, and four sheep are gathered to celebrate the coming of the King.

It is no small job to haul out all the pieces of the stable and figures from storage and erect them to look as natural as boards and paint can make them. Every year we have had help to set it up but this year with Charles's energy depleted and I using a walker it wouldn't have happened without strong hands and shoulders.

The idea for displaying a life size nativity scene started in the 1990's when celebration of Christmas became politically incorrect in many areas of the US. We agreed that it was time for us to make a greater effort to celebrate Christmas visually. If there couldn't be a nativity scene on federal or state property, then we should make sure to celebrate the King on private property.

We ordered patterns for cutting out and painting the Holy Family, shepherds, sheep, and wise men. Fred Bearden, a skilled wood craftsman, cut from plywood the Holy Family, a ewe and a lamb. His wife, Linda Bearden, who taught two of our grandchildren in kindergarten, drew the lines for painting. I, no artist at all, was able to follow her lines and complete those first pieces. Anne Lisk and her husband, Stormy Lisk, gave us a structure they'd created for a Bible school class which Charles adapted to a sturdy stable.

Over the years we've added pieces--the cow, the donkey, another ewe and lamb. During Covid-19 quarantine we cut out and painted the shepherds. We were hoping to make the wise men in time for 2023 Christmas but Charles's leukemia/lymphoma had a different idea. Maybe next year!

I sat on the front porch and watched as everyone worked to set up the scene the day after Thanksgiving. Thanks to the Lord's mercy and a wonderful oncologist named Dr. Tan, Charles was a lot stronger and was able to supervise in a pretty hearty way. Our grandson, Charles Reeves, had helped put the stable together many times and was a team leader now in stable building. His wife, Allie Nowell Reeves, took a place holding a corner together while the screws went in. Also helping hold, heave, prop or whatever was needed were our son Will Graham of Birmingham along with two of his three children, William Jr., an Auburn sophomore, and Mattie, ninth grade. There was a lot of laughter and teasing, setting and resetting the roof, adjusting here, re-screwing there.

It was a beautiful sunny but cool morning, wonderful for the beginning of the Christmas season. I thought back over Christmases past with this creche. There was the year I painted the first figures. I became so emotional painting Jesus's little hands, knowing what they did for me, that I made him five fingers and a thumb on one hand. Of course I had to start over! There was the year we enacted a live nativity scene amongst the pines at our old place. We had a real bleating lamb and a neighbor's cute little donkey. There was the year when Charles patiently cut out the shepherds with only my clumsy help. Together, we painted the figures. There were times when children ran in and out of the scene and I thought of Jesus saying "Let the little children come to me."

It is only a wooden scene. But it reminds us of the greatest birth, the coming of Jesus in human flesh. It reminds us He came to save all who would come to Him--the humble shepherds, solemn Joseph, worshipful Mary, and each of us.

William Jr. attached the star on top and established lights to shine spotlighting the Baby Jesus. I drove down and took a picture of the finished work. Hugs were not enough to say thank you to all who helped. It was such a sweet gift for our children to give, something of which Jesus Himself is pleased.