The Manger

Each year at Christmas time, I display a beautiful nativity scene to depict the true meaning of the holiday. I set a long runner of burlap onto the tabletop surface and then set the manger on it. It is a special piece of art, the manger, because my grandfather, Poppie, built it . It was one of the first gifts we received when my husband and I got married.. Poppie had made one for my mom when she was newly married and I remember setting it up every Christmas as a child. Even when I went away to college, my mom and dad would wait until I came home for Christmas break so my sister and I could set up the manger. It was an important tradition in our family and one I have kept going after I had children.

Before the tree went up, the manger was set up and all of the figures except one would be displayed in their rightful places around and in the stable. Baby Jesus would be placed in the cradle made of hay on Christmas morning by the kids. Then they could see what Santa brought. I must admit that sometimes, their excitement got the best of the boys and the baby found its cradle rather quickly, but the sequence of events still put Jesus in the cradle first before they checked on Santa’s empty cookie plate and, of course, the presents.

Since my mother, father and sister have all passed on, I have become the keeper of the manger with all its figures, including: Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepards, kings, merchants, angels, donkeys, sheep, cows and a drummer boy. There is a small light that shines on the cradle at night and there are pieces of hay from my cousin’s farm lining the stable floor. It is a simple scene, yet it evokes such emotional feelings every time I look at it.

As the years roll on and I downsize my surroundings, I have decided that I may not always have the garland, the wreaths, the candles, the snowmen, the Santas or even the tree, but I will always have my family’s nativity scene with the manger that my Poppie built.

I wrote this post a couple of years ago, yet the presence of the manger and the entire nativity scene are more prevalent than ever in my Christmas preparation. As I walk past the manger at night, I take note of the small warm light glowing on the stable. I pause for a moment and think of how very blessed I am and remind myself that the true meaning of Christmas begins in a small manger.