Do You See What I See?

And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people. --Luke 2:10

My mother always tried to make the most of things and it usually worked out for the best. This was never quite as clear as one Christmas when the family picture Christmas card was named, "Do you see what I see?"

There were seven of us children, just enough for everyone to be dressed up for a part in the nativity scene. There we were dressed in bathrobes, towels on our heads, oversize shirts on the younger ones with a stick for the shepherd's staff and the youngest baby in a box for Jesus. However, this was not going well. My mother did her part and got us dressed and ready. My father was to take the picture for the annual Christmas card. We did not look happy. We were not.

We did not want to do this. My older sister got to be Mary...I wanted that part. One brother wanted to be the shepherd with the stick but was assigned to be Joseph. The crowns were paper, not real. And on it went. Fortunately, the baby was asleep. My father wanted us to be focused on the baby Jesus. Those bathrobes were hot, slipping and really not our style. Finally my mother said to my father, "Just take it, take it anyway" even if the expression wasn't one of wonder.

What my mother couldn't know and my father never saw was that when my mother backed away from us she fell over the back of a couch as my father clicked the picture! Now that got our attention and some laughed, some gasped, some looked a little scared and the baby woke up. The picture was taken. My mother said that was enough and whatever picture taken would be it for that year.

The picture was called, "Do you see what I see?" Some of our friends knew the story but most didn't But all who received the cards were surprised that some of us had a look of wonder and amazement and being scared.

I think there were mixed emotions that first Christmas night, just as in our picture. The next time you look at a nativity scene, perhaps you will feel the mix of emotions of Mary, Joseph, the shepherd, and the three Kings as they gather around the sleeping baby. For who knows what they saw? May we see something new this Christmas in our lives. Small glimpses of God's love and grace can change our lives.

--Becky N.