We have several nativity scenes that we place out every year to decorate. We place the baby Jesus out last as a tradition to represent our “waiting” time of Advent. In years past, I would place Jesus in the drawer by the nativity and allow one of the kids to take him and put him in his centermost place on Christmas Eve.
Last year, I was looking for all the “players” in the scene and accounted for all except one of the nativities–it was missing Jesus! I looked in each storage chest, assuming I might have left it in a drawer and not gotten it out. It was quite the search. After all, what is Christmas without Jesus?
The picture at the top is the nativity that was missing the babe in the manger. I placed out all the rest of it and frantically searched for Jesus.
Somehow, I had forgotten that on this nativity, Jesus had been placed in his mother’s arms, and was there all along. Though I had missed Jesus, He had never left us.
Where is Jesus in your waiting this year? Where is he as you “prepare ye the way of the Lord”? Is he front and center in your life, or is he tucked away out of sight? Are you searching for him this year with a hunger and an anticipation? He is right there waiting for you, and He always was right where he should be–center stage in his story and our story.
Blessed Christmas with Christ Jesus at the center of your life stage this year. And may it reassure you to know that He has been right there beside you all along.
a view through annie's eyes 
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