When I was a child, my favorite Bible verse, and the first I memorized, was Luke 2:11— “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (KJV). As you might imagine, my favorite Christmas decorations are manger scenes.
The first nativity scene was set up by St. Francis of Assisi about 800 years ago using live people and animals. As then, the Nativity scene reminds us why we really celebrate Christmas. Some churches still set up live nativity scenes, but many use life-size figurines instead.
I have several nativity sets that I set up to enjoy during the Christmas season. My first manger scene was a gift from my Sunday School teacher in the 1950s, a small, plastic all-in-one nativity.
On a trip to the Amish country of Pennsylvania, I purchased a small olive wood nativity from Bethlehem. Another of my favorites is the glass nativity I purchased while working at a Christian bookstore. I received a musical snow globe nativity as a teacher gift. We have several other nativities around our home and a larger set under our Christmas tree.
I encourage you to set up a manger scene—or several—in your house. You can create one of cloth as I did for my granddaughter when she was a toddler. Or purchase one of wood or another element that children can play with to reenact the Christmas story.
Nativity sets remind us that Jesus is real, that He is with us, that He is the best gift we can receive. His life, death, and resurrection enable us to have eternal life. What a wonderful Gift!
