Love in My Back Pocket

  • By: Trish Berg
  • December 7, 2010
  • 275
                        
One Christmas many years back, my husband, Mike, built a manger for me for Christmas. We were newlyweds, poor as dirt and romantic as midnight. We had decided not to exchange gifts with each other that year (back to the poor as dirt reality) but Mike decided to surprise me with the sweetest, handmade manger I ever imagined (since he was romantic as midnight). It is made of old barn siding, nailed together with straw glued to the bottom. It is rustic at best, but I treasure it nonetheless because of the hands that made it and the love it reflects. Each Christmas, Mike has purchased a new piece to add to our little manger. Of course we started with Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Over the years we have added wise men, sheep, shepherds, angels, children’s choir, oxen and donkeys. It has, in fact, become quite crowded. I like having a crowded manger just like I like having a crowded house. With each person that comes into my home, love comes in as well. It’s as if they carry it in their back pocket and share it with me the moment they arrive. I wonder if Mary enjoyed having a crowded stable as well. Imagine her fear at what was happening to her. Not that she questioned God’s plan, but that she was such a huge part of His plan. That miracle had to feel surreal. We have all had mini (and not so mini) miracles in our lives. In the moment of the miracle, we feel God’s presence as if He were standing beside us whispering in our ear. But as time passes, we begin to question the reality of the miracle. Did it truly happen? Was I dreaming? Am I exaggerating my memories? Mary might have felt that as well. She had just given birth to the Savior of the world in a cold, dark stable and suddenly, just maybe, she wondered if her miracle, our miracle, was real. Then they came. From far and near - they came. The shepherds showed up praising God, wanting to see the miracle the angels had told them about in the field. People came with wide eyes and wondering spirits. They came, and suddenly, in that crowd of people, Mary had to feel assured that her miracle, our miracle, was real. The shepherds shared the story of the angels in the sky singing praises to God and telling them where Jesus was. Could Mary hear the music when she gazed upon her baby boy? One Christmas many years back, a Baby was born with nothing but cloth to wrap in. He was born with cattle, sheep and oxen by His side in a crowded stable. He was poor as dirt and yet He alone is the greatest treasure we could have hoped for because of the Hands that made Him and the love He reflects. Most days, my life feels rustic at best, nailed together with hope glued to the bottom of my shoes and faith whistling through the cracks in the siding. But God tucked love in my back pocket, and Christmastime is the best time of year to share it with everyone I meet. Pick up your copy of Trish’s book A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts-Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday online or at a bookstore near you. www.TrishBerg.com


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