Christmas Village
The welcome … staggered arrivals, happy hugs, and a mix of mingling and making sure supper is ready for go. Coats and shoes are shed at the door as children and adults warm up to the relaxed beauty and invitational charm all around.
Teens toss around enthusiastic topics and adults offer affirmation and kind solidarity, while children explore with curiosity all things bright and merry.
Tiny hands gently touch the shimmery ornaments hanging from the lowest branches of the twinkling tree. Small socked feet pause in front of mesmerizing flames that fill the stone fireplace with a mysterious blend of danger and loveliness. Plush snowmen are relocated to a playful heap in front of the couch.
And from that spontaneous spot on the floor, she sees it. Spread across the entire bottom shelf of the sofa table, the most colorful collection of ceramic pieces … people, cottages, animals, trees and a church … rests amid pillowy batting and lights.
Kneeling closer, little fingers move two of the figurines to walk a path together, chatting about pets and how pretty everything looked.
“Don't touch!” Guests startle the child with warnings of fragility and the fear of breakage. “Set it down. It is just for decoration.”
The host gently intervenes, “Please let her play with it! I have it there to be enjoyed. My girls have played with it for years. If something breaks, I'll just fix it!”
Wondering if this is a hospitable bluff, ultimately submitting to the confidence and kindness overflowing from her offer of freedom, the nervous onlookers quiet down to resume their clusters of chattiness.
As the little girl continues to happily engage with the snowy scene, one of the delicate, scarved carolers tumbles to the tile floor … and literally loses her head.
In the abrupt silence of darting eyes and I-told-you-so's, the preschooler, clutching the decapitated singer and her earmuffed head, locks eyes with the busy host.
“Oh, did she fall? Bring her here. I have special glue that will fix her right up!”
The dramatic pause of surprising calmness is followed by a circled prayer and delicious meal, and as folks clean their plates and clear their places, the host quietly returns to the table with the broken figurine and a tiny tube of glue. The preschooler, eager to be a part of the restoration, slides onto the edge of the seat so she could see. “Can I do it? Can I help you fix her?”
“No, Honey. This glue is really messy and strong … I don't want your fingers to be stuck together. I've done this before many times. I'll get her good as new and you can sit here beside me and watch.”
Position.
Apply.
Reposition.
Hold & wait.
In the stillness, grace abounds.
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I don't know what or who in your real-life village is broken today.
But I do know that there is Someone to whom all this belongs.
He is wise and kind and has invited us to interact and find joy. He is not afraid.
Whatever is broken, He can make it right. Humbly, with calm confidence in His freedom and goodness, take it to Him.
Sit as close as you can.
Accept that there is nothing you can do to really fix this …
Except to watch and wait as He tenderly, patiently works to mend and amend … making all things new in His time.
This shared, restoration experience can equip and inform your interactions moving forward …
Gentleness. Gratitude.
Courage and Kindness.
Peace and Hospitality.
🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
[Jesus says,] “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10
