Missing in the Manger

Thursday, December 7th, 2017     by Debra DuPree Williams     Start the Conversation

by Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams


It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Williams home. We’re in Florida for Christmas this year. After more than thirty years down here, it doesn’t seem odd any more to see Christmas lights on palm trees. As a matter of fact, it can be quite beautiful. But this year, I’ve noticed a flamboyance of flamingos wearing little Santa hats. I have to say, that’s not my style, but my best friend, no doubt, has one.

We live in a little villa, perfect for those of us who are of a certain age. The kids are grown, and if you’re lucky, out on their own. One of ours is living with us, and while we are delighted to be able to give him temporary housing, it does make things a bit more cramped than we had anticipated. Especially in a small space.


Tiny Tree

Hence, the smallest tree we’ve ever had. We found this little beauty at our local Big Lots store. It came in a decorative pot. Check. No need to purchase a pot. It came with lights. Check. And it came with a few strategically placed pine cones and holly berries. Check and check. Still, we bought a few ornaments to make it a bit more festive. Then I watched a Youtube video on how to make the perfect tree-topper bow. I must say, I think I did a pretty good job for the first time around.

Since we’re in such a small space, we didn’t have room for all of the things we would normally do. We have no fireplace on which to hang stockings, so that was a no-go. Without the fireplace, there’s no mantel on which to put all the pretty Christmas things, I’d normally have out.

But we do have a couple of end tables in our den that were screaming for something festive. After all, we’re celebrating the birth of Jesus. And that means we pull out the best we have. So, off I went in search of our creche. I’d found a cute one in Hobby Lobby back in October. Yes, you read that right. October. Seems that we begin celebrating earlier and earlier every year. Seems a bit odd, jack-o-lanterns sitting in the same aisle with the Holy Family. Oh, well. Such are the times in which we live.

My little manger scene sat in our garage until a week ago when we got out the few things we had room for. I eagerly opened the package and began pulling out the pieces. The little one was the manger with baby Jesus. That was good. Then, the lone female had to be Mary. Good. The ones with crowns were obviously the three kings. The one holding the lamb was a shepherd, that was pretty obvious. The other one, the one with the crooked staff, he had to be a shepherd, too, even though he also held a lantern. That was different. There was an angel. I only knew that because of the wings. And I guess she looks girly, so Mary wasn’t the lone female. There was one camel and one cow.

Something’s Missing!
I looked over the pieces as I sat them on the table top. There was a piece missing.  Hmmm. 

Oh! Joseph! Where was Joseph?

My goodness! My poor Mary, great with child, had had to make the trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem, all alone. Well, in my set, she obviously had.

As I looked at my pretty little manger scene, I had to wonder about the people over in China who had made it. Had they ever heard the real story of Christmas? Did they think it was about Santa and reindeer, and people who already have more than enough stuff, going out and buying even more stuff? Did they not understand the significance of Joseph? That he stood beside Mary through the ridicule, the finger pointing, the doubting villagers? 

Without Joseph, Mary would have never made it to Bethlehem. Prophecy would not have been fulfilled. Baby Jesus would not have grown up to become a carpenter like his earthly father. So many things hinge on all the pieces being in place.


How about you? Are all of your pieces in place this Christmas? While you’ve decorated your home and you’ve shopped on Black Friday or Cyber Monday to get the best deals around, have you made room in your home and in your heart for the biggest bargain of all? Have you made room for Jesus? The One who came as a baby so that he could die for you and all the people of the world, including those folks over in China who made my manger scene with the missing piece. It’s called salvation. And it’s free!

The Missing Piece/Peace
My prayer for you this Christmas is that you seek and find all the missing pieces–that you have the whole story of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. Mostly, I pray that you seek Him and find Him. For with Him, all the broken things come together. All the missing pieces of your life are found. He is Peace, and Joy, and Love, and Light. In His words in the Gospel of John 10:10, He tells us─The thief (Satan) comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they (you) might have life, and might have it abundantly.(NAS) That includes having Peace, Joy, Love, and the Light of the World. All the missing pieces.
Do you have a missing Piece/Peace this Christmas Season? How do you plan to find it? Share that with us below.

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