Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

When Awsumb was a baby we were asked to be in the church Nativity.   I suggested we let a couple of older children be Mary and Joseph, and would give permission for them to use Awsumb,

IF I could help choose the kids. 

 This little girl was so tender with Awsumb. 

Today she is Awsumb's favorite babysitter!

 

A friend of mine drew all these animals. 

Aren't they beautiful?

I served in the primary for many years

 and watched these kids grow up. 

I just love these photos!

(even with the orange stage lights!)

At some point we could tell Awsumb was getting heavy.  So from off stage we tried to get Mary's attention and let her know she could put him down.  I almost had a hard attack as she placed him in the rickety manger, his head was lower than his feet! 

But if I remember right, Awsumb never made a peep. 

He was a good little baby Jesus.

 

 This year Awsumb was asked to step in as King Herod.  He refused because he was upset about being a bad guy.  Awsumb was happy to be a shepherd with the rest of his class.  (no photos were taken.)  Apparently the young boy who did play King Herod never broke character and continued to glare at the baby Jesus throughout the program and songs!  I guess he was serious about never breaking character!  Kids are so funny!

When you read
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson,

you just know it's going to be the best story ever when you read that first couple lines...

 

"The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker's old broken-down toolhouse."

 

And when you realize
"the rottenest kids in the history of the world,"
are going to take over the pageant like it or not,
you start to see the Christmas story in a new way,
in a pure and childlike way,
even though these kids are anything but pure or childlike!

It's a good reminder that God sees us for who we really are
and that there is a little good in everyone,

 even The Herdmans!