As I walked through the tables and tables full of various nativity scenes, I couldn’t help but remember a nativity scene close to my heart.
In fact, I still have this nativity scene.
When I was in elementary school, my godmother gave me a nativity scene for Christmas. It was all made by hand including the manger, which was made out of wood.
She made Mary, Joseph, an angel, three wise men, the shepherds and even the baby Jesus out of felt. The bodies were filled with rice or beans and she had sewn and extra thick piece of felt on the bottom of each of them so they would sit upright.
Each person was shaped kind of like a bowling pin, the bottom being bigger so they would sit up properly.
I can recall playing with this nativity set for years. I would recite the Christmas story about the birth of Jesus as I would play with the manger scene. I may have even taken it to college one year.
I think I have most of the pieces, but I can’t recall. I am not even sure if I had animals to go with it or not. You see, the manager is in desperate need of repair. The wood used to make it is literally crumbling and very fragile, which is why I stopped getting it out.
I know I have it protected in a box downstairs, but to be honest I never thought much about it since it is falling apart.
Now, that I have children who are getting old enough to appreciate this nativity scene, I am more inclined to figure out a way to salvage the old manager. I know the felt figures are in pretty good shape or at least they were the last time I looked at them. However, I know even if those felt figures aren’t in the best of shape I now have good enough crafting skills myself that I am confident I could fix them.
It wasn’t until this year when I decided to cover the Immaculate Conception Church’s Nativity Scene open house that I remembered the one that was once so precious to me.
This doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about it from time to time as I was sifting through the various Christmas decoration boxes. It just means, I didn’t have the confidence to tackle a restoration on such a precious gift myself until now.
After looking at all of the various nativity scene depictions at the church, I was blown away by the various interpretations. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel, that mine is better than all of those I had seen even though it is falling apart.
Why? Because someone very special to me made it for me so I would learn about Jesus at a young age. My godmother is still sending me cards every year. This year, while I am down in my basement sorting through all of the old forgotten Christmas decorations of Christmases past I am going to find that nativity scene and see if I can’t fix it.
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