Crowding in!
So, I was picking up Christmas decorations today. Yes yes, I know I am a little late, but whatev.
My favorite part of decorating, and therefore the saddest part about putting away, is Nativity scenes. Andee has made these simple figurines a source of constant smiles, and more recently of deeper consideration. When I used to set them up, I set up the stories. Shepherds all stood to one side, in a mass with their sheep. Wisemen entering on the other side, a little further away than the shepherds. Can you see it?
Andee began by moving my figurines (no matter how many times I tried to put them back), and now is given the job of completely setting them up. She has no regard for order, which to be honest, used to get on my OCD nerves. She just throws them together. Until one day, I realized that every single "person" (angels and animals included) was trying to get as close to baby Jesus as possible. She can't see the scene in any other way, and . . . why not?!? As she has gotten older, it has changed just slightly, in that, when there are too many figures, she won't put any one behind another; no one has their "view" blocked by someone else. Everyone is in the tightest circle, that Andee can get them in, around that baby.
How often do I crowd in? do I make sure that no one, nothing is blocking my view of Jesus?
P.S. When Andee is getting them all out of the boxes for the first time, and taking all of the figurines out of the bubble wrap to set them up, I can always tell when she unwraps baby Jesus because she squeals like she has won a million dollars. (You can also feel this heaviness in the air around Andee before hand, that feels like "Well, duh, these people have no where to go, and no purpose until I find the baby.") I do love that little girl.
My favorite part of decorating, and therefore the saddest part about putting away, is Nativity scenes. Andee has made these simple figurines a source of constant smiles, and more recently of deeper consideration. When I used to set them up, I set up the stories. Shepherds all stood to one side, in a mass with their sheep. Wisemen entering on the other side, a little further away than the shepherds. Can you see it?
Andee began by moving my figurines (no matter how many times I tried to put them back), and now is given the job of completely setting them up. She has no regard for order, which to be honest, used to get on my OCD nerves. She just throws them together. Until one day, I realized that every single "person" (angels and animals included) was trying to get as close to baby Jesus as possible. She can't see the scene in any other way, and . . . why not?!? As she has gotten older, it has changed just slightly, in that, when there are too many figures, she won't put any one behind another; no one has their "view" blocked by someone else. Everyone is in the tightest circle, that Andee can get them in, around that baby.
How often do I crowd in? do I make sure that no one, nothing is blocking my view of Jesus?
P.S. When Andee is getting them all out of the boxes for the first time, and taking all of the figurines out of the bubble wrap to set them up, I can always tell when she unwraps baby Jesus because she squeals like she has won a million dollars. (You can also feel this heaviness in the air around Andee before hand, that feels like "Well, duh, these people have no where to go, and no purpose until I find the baby.") I do love that little girl.