It is week 1 of Advent, and time to think about Christmas. While you are busy, shopping, cooking and cleaning to get ready for the big day, take a little time out and read a book with your kids. Make sure you read something that reminds you of the true meaning of Christmas. Too often we get so busy we forget.
Which brings me to the book, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". The book is by Barbara Robinson.
If you think back to Halloween, you might remember I blogged about the book, "The Best Halloween Ever".
This story is another about the infamous Herdman kids. The same ones who smoked, cussed, stole and set fires. This time they are about to take over the Christmas pageant at the local church.
It opens up with Leroy Herdman stealing Charlie's <the narrator's brother> dessert out of his lunchbox. After the third day, Charlie tells Leroy that he gets all the dessert he wants at Sunday School. So on Sunday the children show up. Had it been any other day, the Herdman's probably would not have returned. But on this particular Sunday there are food baskets. During the announcement part of the service, the Herdman's find out that there is to be a pageant. In typical Herdman fashion they decide to join in.
The church ladies are appalled, but Beth the narrator, whose mother is in charge of the Christmas Pageant, takes a step back to see it from the Herdman's point of view. She realizes that the Herdmans have never heard of Jesus, and know nothing of the Christmas. When the Herdmans play Joseph, Mary and the Wise men, Christmas becomes alive for everyone else.
This is a beautiful story. Despite the fact that I read it every year at Christmas, it never fails to touch me. It is a true reminder of the meaning of Christmas.
Read it if you are feeling stressed, or overly commercialized. "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is really that.
No comments:
Post a Comment