Keeping Christ In Christmas #1

I love the  Christmas season - the lights, the trees, the snow, presents, the music.  But in all of this fun, I don't want to lose sight of what we are celebrating.  I know we may not know when Jesus was actually born, but we love to spend this time focusing on His Coming and the reason He came.  

So we spend time reading good stories, and talking about Jesus' birth.  I put up Nativity sets and our advent calendars always include verses that tell the Story.

This year I found another way to focus on the Reason for the season.

 In the early Autumn I popped into my local Kirkland's.  I normally don't go into stores like this because I try not to buy things I really don't need, even if they are cute and would be perfect in my house.  You know.   This time I spied this painting of the Nativity.  It's perfect.  I waited and recently they had a deal, so I talked to Tim and bought it!  It is about 25" x 38 1/2", just right over my sofa!

This is what captured my heart.  It's simple, Mary, Joseph with light in hand, showing the humble shepherd's, the baby.

When I look at it I am reminded that God gave the Good News to simple men, and they went and told.  Those who heard marveled at what the shepherds had to say.  I want to still marvel at the gift that was given and to tell it to my children so they can marvel too.