I started reading the Book of Mormon on October 9th with the intention to finish by December 31st and to highlight each reference of Christ as challenged by our prophet. I had never read the scriptures this way but I found that it was so inspiring as I focused more on Christ rather than just stories. As Christmas grew near, I realized that in all my cute decorating and holiday stuff, my small nativities seemed inadequate for His celebration. The big tree in the living room actually seemed to encroach on my space, which is odd since we live in such a big home.
As I sat in my living room looking at all the decorations I had collected over the years, I realized that I wanted a large manger. I wanted a focal point that would remind us of Christ in all our holiday preparations instead of focusing on the gifts and parties and decorations. After looking through several online pictures and not finding what I wanted, I commissioned Derek to build me a manger.
We went to the shed and found scrap wood, printed a picture that was closest to what I had in mind, decided on a height and he drew up some plans with measurements. The scrap wood worked perfect for the legs, but we wanted a more raw wood (instead of finished) for the sides and we also decided on nails instead of screws to make it feel more carpenter authentic. So, a quick trip to Home Depot and $11 later, he was back to the saw.
Hyrum helped him with the finish work and together, my modern carpenters built a manger.
It is more perfect than I had imagined. The size is spot on. The raw wood is beautiful.
I initially planned to leave it sitting next to the big tree but I still felt that the tree was taking up too much space, both literally and spiritually. So, I carefully dragged the large tree to the center of the room to see if I would like a different arrangement with the manger as the focal point. I moved the "Jesus Tree" over by the manger and gathered up some treasured nativities and kept the hand print tree to represent our family in the Christ centered setting.
It came together so well that I decided to take the large tree down all together. I undecorated it, took it apart and began hauling it downstairs when I realized that the top section of the large tree fit perfectly sitting next to the manger. So, there it remained.
I was a little nervous about how the kids would feel of my drastic redecorating. Hyrum did express that he missed the big tree but later told me he loved the manger. The others didn't seem too phased by it. After all, we do have five other trees around the house, albeit small. In brief explanations, scattered among questions, observations and conversations, I explained my reasoning and each child seemed okay with it, though not verbalizing support or disapproval. I'll still put the large tree up in a less center-of-attention place next year but this year, the new tradition was set and I will have the manger as the focal point for every year to come.
Above the manger is my favorite Christ-child picture with the phrase "The dawn of Redeeming Grace" on it, as well as nativities that hold special meaning to me. From left to right, the nativity set from Sarah d'Evegnee, the Holy Family from Kellie Boyd when they were living in Africa, and on the far right, a stable scene that Terra Sargeant burned into a wood ornament for me.
I hung in the manger a sign that Sarah d'Evegnee gave me with the scripture from the Book of Mormon, "Lift up your head and be of good cheer for . . . on the morrow come I into the world". That one phrase represents the first Christmas in the Nephite land when all the unbelievers had set aside a date for all the believers to be killed but in answer to prayer, Christ gave this comfort. The night with no darkness and this promise represented His birth to the people of the Americas.
LeRoy and I put all the gifts around the Jesus tree and manger for Christmas morning. Our family loves to use large boxes to disguise the size and shape of gifts so the gift giving always looks so big, but this year they did not seem to take away from the focal point of our celebration. I loved watching Hyrum and Daymia take the gifts from around and in the manger as they handed them out Christmas morning.
After all our gifting was over and a quick tidy was done of the room, I tossed Nathan's stocking into the manger because it was empty and I didn't want it lost among all the other stuff. My mind had me take a second look as I noticed how appropriate it was for this particular stocking to be sitting in the manger. After all the singing, story telling, partying and gifting, He is the reason we celebrate. He is the subtle giver of grace, peace, joy and love. The real gifts that make up the Christmas season.
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