THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

My husband & I had been happily married (most of the time) for 5 years, but hadn't been blessed with a baby.

I decided to do some serious praying & God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart & raise

it with His word as my guide.

God answered my prayers & blessed us with a son. The next year God blessed us with another son. The following year, He blessed us with yet another son.

The year after that we were blessed with a daughter.

My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty.  We now had 4 children & the oldest was only 4 years old.

I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it.  As a minister once told me,  "If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."

I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs..

I was off to a good start.  God had entrusted me with 4 children & I didn't want to disappoint Him.

I tried to be patient the day the children smashed 2 dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding... when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly 2 hours to catch all 23 frogs.

When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself & rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor

rather than the mess..

In spite of changing over 25,000 diapers, never eating a hot meal & never sleeping for more than 30 minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children.

While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother - I didn't even come close... I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God. 

I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church toworship God, & she wanted to bring a bar of

soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too.

Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, & my son thought it was generous of God to give

us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant.

My daughter was playing Mary, 2 of my sons were shepherds & my youngest son was a wise man.  This was their moment to shine.

My 5-yr-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes."  But he was nervous & said, "The

baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes."  My 4-year-old "Mary" said, "That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly.  That's dirty, rotten clothes." 

A wrestling match broke out between Mary & the shepherd & was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo & lost  her left wing. 

I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, & it bounced down the aisle crying,  "Mama-mama."

Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up & held it tightly as the wise men arrived.

My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe & a paper crown, knelt at the manger & announced, "We are the 3 wise men, & we are

bringing gifts of gold, common sense & fur."

The congregation dissolved into laughter, & the pageant got a standing ovation.  "I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one," laughed the pastor,  wiping tears from his eyes

"For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense & fur."

"My children are my pride & my joy & my greatest blessing," I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher . Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

Had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. 

Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us.