Broken Baby Jesus

My granddaughter absolutely loves Nativity Sets. Early this fall she discovered the all in one set I had put away in the closet and was intrigued. We took the set out and laid it on the carpet in front of the closet. She and I lay side by side in front of the scene as I shared the story of Jesus’ birth. We talked, about his mother, Mary, his daddy, Joseph, and his Father God. I showed her the wise men and told her about the gifts they brought to lay at his feet.

She disappeared for a bit while I lay on the floor singing “Away in a Manger” in October. Soon she returned with something cupped gingerly in her hands. It was the gold chain from my handbag I had let her play with! She crept gently toward the scene of the holy family and sweetly lay the chain at his feet. I used this opportunity to tell her about how Jesus really wanted her heart, her love. Then she began to sing. I’m not certain what she was singing, but Jesus knows.

Each time she came to my home she would grab my hand and lead me to the bedroom closet. She would place her little finger over her lips and tiptoe quietly to the door, open it slowly, and pull the set out of the closet so she could lie in front of it and sing. On Halloween she repeated the process and brought Baby Jesus a Kit Kat. This time she set it right into the creche with him. When he failed to eat the Kit Kat after fifteen minutes or so, she ate it herself.

This week I had the pleasure of keeping the grands at their house for a bit. I had given my daughter-in-law the Nativity set I had bought when my boys were little. She had set the scene out and had it displayed beautifully.

It was not an expensive set. Pieces had broken over the years: a lamb here, a shepherd there, a wise man or two. I had replaced each with pieces from the Dollar Store. Baby Jesus, had, after nearly thirty years, remained in tact-until this day.

Luna led me to the Nativity Scene and began to sing to Baby Jesus. She picked him up gingerly while singing . I grabbed my phone and took a picture. Luna started to dance. I took more pics. Before I knew it, Luna spun and Baby Jesus flew right out of her hands. She was horrified. Her eyes flew wide, her hands covered her mouth, and she ran from the scene crying, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

I knew the fault was not hers alone. I had allowed her to play with this piece of the set. I had begun to take pics. I told her, “WE broke baby Jesus.” She walked over as I collected the pieces. She continued to cry gently, distraught over losing something she had grown to love.

“It will be okay.” I said. “We can superglue him back together.” We had all the pieces. They had broken whole and had not shattered. However, I could find no glue. So, I did the next best thing. I opened my Amazon app and ordered another Baby Jesus. He was delivered today.

Her mother tells me that over the last couple of days, Luna continued to express sadness. She would visit the Nativity Scene, crying, and say over and over, “Sorry!” I hope the new Baby Jesus will help to heal her sorrowful heart.

I hope one day she will understand that even though WE broke Baby Jesus HE forgives us. The real Jesus grew up to become a man who was both fully man and fully God.

He was broken so He could heal our brokenness.

When we feel broken, we can bring the pieces of our heart to Him and over time He will put us back together. We may never be the same. We WILL never be the same. He doesn’t use Superglue. He uses the blood He shed for us on the cross. He uses the power of HIS WORD!

…it was because of our rebellious deeds that he was pierced
    and because of our sins that he was crushed.
    He endured the punishment that made us completely whole,
    and in his wounding we found our healing.

Isaiah 53:5 The Passion Translation

Thus, while I am grateful for the birth of Baby Jesus, I am most grateful for the Christ who lived to show us the way, the truth, and the life. I am indebted to a Christ who laid his life down for me. And I am overwhelmed with a Christ who rose again to life, so we may truly live.

Thank You, Most Holy Father, for sending us Your Son! Thank you that you are not broken, but WHOLE so that we may be whole! Oh How I love You!