Growing up, we had a Nativity that we could play with and touch. We could move the people around, adjust the angel and play with the animals. When I got married, I shared with Jim how much that meant to me to be able to play with a Nativity set. I decided I wanted a wooden one that my kids would feel free to touch and play with and I would not have to worry about it breaking. Our first Christmas together Jim got me a wooden Nativity set. Needless to say, I love it! This is the first year it is actually getting some "play time." Now, it has not always been very good play time. I have had to take the wooden people away at times for things such as: banging the wise men together like cymbals and trying to eat baby Jesus. However, most of the time it is good and fun playtime. Lydia likes to move Marry and Joseph around the room. She regularly stacks the wisemen on toys or books. Often she just carries baby Jesus around.Last week the speech therapist, Miss Val, was at our house and we were talking about Christmas. I said to Lydia, "Go show Miss Val baby Jesus." So on que, Lydia went and got baby Jesus. Miss Val said in a rather surprised voice, "Jesus looks like a peanut!" Well...I guess I never thought of that.
Later that day and the following several days I kept thinking back to what Miss Val said. The thing that really struck me was, how am I portraying Jesus to Lydia? She is at an age where she will start to perceive things. Now, I really don't think I am making a mistake by teaching Lydia that the little, wooden, peanut-type thing is baby Jesus. However, I need to make sure that I am showing and talking about Jesus all the time, not just at Christmas. I need to make sure that I am intentional about talking about Jesus, "when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:7.)
Just for fun, here is a picture of our Nativity. Do you think baby Jesus looks like a peanut?
