Penguins in Bethlehem

I spent most of the day ushering in Christmas. The house is completely Christmas-tized. Two trees are decked out in all their splendor, and spattered about the house are assorted angels, garland, and homemade creche scenes. My favorite is a little creche Asherel made for me out of Sculpey clay. In fact, I like that one so much that it stays up year round. My second favorite is a little Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus that I made out of clay many years ago. I made Jesus a manger out of popsicle sticks. Somewhere along the years, He lost a hand but the small sculptures are not detailed and you don't really notice. I lined his crib with teeny tiny pinecones. Mary and Joseph are kneeling in prayer on either side of him. And then, (this is the part I really love) I took four little Sculpey clay penguins that my son Matt and his wife, Karissa, and I made a few months ago, and lined them all up behind the manger. It is my quirky twist on the animals worshiping the new born King.

I love whimsy. My house is decorated in whimsy in fact. This is an effective go to strategy for those of us with no taste. But I will bet you anything that if there had been any penguins in Bethlehem, they would have been lined up to worship baby Jesus, just like the cows and donkeys.

Now don't get me wrong. The entire home is not kitschy. My tree is all in white and crystal, and white lace. I learned this elegance from my mom, and in fact, all the decorations are from her. And my mantlepiece is very chic, with garland, and pine cones and artistically crinkled silver and white ribbon. The eye first rests on those tasteful and refined expressions of the birthday of the Messiah. Then the eye moves over to the little clay baby Jesus with the broken hand...surrounded by worshipful penguins. Somehow, the mixture of reverence and laughter makes me think God would be pleased.

Remember, when Sarah was first told by the God she loved and worshiped, that at a ripe old age, she and Abraham were going to have a baby, she laughed. Reverence and laughter. I think that is a good combination to celebrate the birth of the One who would one day outsmart the Devil and die to set us free. That's my Christmas theme this year.

***************

Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” (Genesis 18:2, 10-15 )








-save a dog- hollowcreekfarm.org
http://www.amazon.com/Vicky-Kaseorg/e/B006XJ2DWU