It’s a Baby!!!

By:  Donna Martin

Do you remember the good times that you had at your grandparents’ house?  I would imagine that the things your remember most are connected to some kind of emotion – something that made you laugh or cry or surprised or frightened you.  We try to do things to help our children and grand children remember our times together.  Some of the things we do may seem silly or crazy to our kids, but they are usually good sports and go along with our unusual ideas.  Many times they surprise us with their innocent reactions.  This was the case last night at our family Christmas.  I had a spur of the moment idea that acting out the Christmas story would be fun.  So I gathered scraps of material for impromptu costumes.  We really had to use our imagination.  The Shepherds wrapped material around their heads. Mary and Joseph threw material over their shoulders.  The angels wore gold wrapping ribbons around their heads and draped long chiffon material strips that I had left over from making Kacie’s wedding dress over their shoulders for wings.  They were a rather curious cast of characters.  Mike sat in the child sized rocking chair and read the Christmas story from the large family Bible while the kids and grandkids acted out the story.  Of course, there was a lot of laughter and some strange antics by the actors.  Caleb had a double role of Joseph and the donkey, and Brittany was fully equipped to be pregnant Mary! But the highlight of the performance was at the very end as Mike read the final phrase “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God…”  Titus, our 18 month old who was playing the part of a shepherd, discovered the doll in the manger and excitedly exclaimed ,“Baby!” as he grabbed the doll and held it high for all to see.  He was one excited shepherd.  And just like Marty I “treasured up that moment in my heart”.  I pray that as Titus grows older he will still continue to praise God for the baby He sent to be our Savior. 

We hope you make some memories to treasure in your heart this Christmas season.  Praise God that the baby in the manger came to be the Savior of the world.

The Martins currently present “Happy Together” Marriage Enrichment Events for churches and organizations.  To schedule an event call Michael at 940-735-1515. They are certified “Prepare/Enrich” Facilitators and are available to work with couples on an individual basis using the “Prepare/Enrich Assessment.”  They publish a weekly “Happy Together” Blog about family and marriage issues.  You can order copies of their new books Dancing With Death and 366 Tidbits We Have Learned in 14,610 Days of Marriage, read, and subscribe to their “Happy Together” Blog by logging onto the Martin’s website at www.happytogethermarriage.com.