Christmas Day

My two young grandchildren arrived three days before Christmas to celebrate the holiday at my house. In the dining room, I had set out a decades-old nativity scene, except I left the manger empty. Baby Jesus’ absence greatly concerned my four-year-old granddaughter. Straightaway, she asked, “Where’s the baby?” I told her he would arrive Christmas morning, but she was not consoled.

Several times over the next three days she walked by the manger and commented, “There’s no baby.” Eventually, she took the matter into her own hands and placed the tiniest figure from my nesting doll in the crib. I told her that was not the baby Jesus and she replied, “I know that,” and merrily went on her way. On Christmas Eve, after my granddaughter went to sleep, I switched the nesting doll with the baby Jesus.

I was sipping coffee at the kitchen table early Christmas morning when I heard my granddaughter shout over and over, “He’s here! Baby Jesus is here!” She ran through the house to wake her family to the “good news of great joy.” She paid no attention to her overflowing stocking or gifts from Santa. Her exuberant reaction helped me experience anew the good news of the arrival of the Christ child. Indeed, he is here! Baby Jesus is here!