“…When the dog eats Baby Jesus…”

Yes- the dog ate Baby Jesus. I am not happy. This dog is ravenous- she’ll eat anything. We give her smoked dog bones and she EATS them. (As opposed to gnawing on them.) That’s intense. “She” is our beloved, but sometimes bad, beagle- named Sami. Don’t let her sweet kisses on Noah’s face fool you- she’s probably tasting, to see if he’d make a nice snack.

Sami must have some kind of doggy eating disorder. Although, I have been told it’s the nature of the breed. But- please. She eats from sun up to sundown. When she smells food (this girls got a nose on her) she snorts and sniffs until she finds it. Sami must eat and taste, whatever she smells. Sami is a consumer, par excellance. There is no “Full” for Sami. Just “Hungry”. If it’s on the floor- (or within snatching reach) It’s Sami’s. She has eaten: Shoes, the ends off my Cracker Barrel Rocker, yarn, action figures, tooth brushes, misc. foodstuffs… socks etc. Most in her first year with us, when she was a pup.

As if to prove this- out….

Sami ATE baby Jesus! I was heartbroken.

OK… so I was furious! The nativity is precious, one my husband and I bought on our first trip to Europe. We went to Munich, Germany and Salzburg, Austria. It was a special trip- and we wanted something special to remember it by… so we carefully chose the hand carved Nativity. In addition to the Holy Family… we added a tiny woman, whose hand holds her son’s, as they walk to see the one who had been awaited for so long. It was perfect.

We wrapped it carefully, before leaving Germany, and shipped it home so it wouldn’t be subjected to baggage handling. It took a few weeks and we waited anxiously for it. When it arrived through customs, I was thrilled. I could never put it away after the holidays- and decided it would be a permanent fixture in our home.

A reminder of what God has done in our lives, and promises to do in the future.

One day- a year or so ago- Noah (our four year old) made the connection between Christmas, the Nativity and the baby being Jesus… he stood on a chair, playing “Oh come let us adore him” and acting out the Christmas story with the small figures.

Which was fine, and sweet, until Sami found a gilded, winged angel and an unprotected infant- laying on the kitchen floor. Apparently they were tasty.The Angel survives, (with a now jagged wing and missing much of her gilding) but not much was left of Baby Jesus after Sami was done. Just an empty manger.

I had thought about dropping her off at the local Humane Society. But, she gave me “that look” and licked my face. She would stay. She’s still here. So is the Nativity.

For a few days- I tried to find a replacement- a new Jesus to grace the manger scene. But, none looked right. The Nativity has sat without a savior, wrapped in swaddling clothes, ever since.

As the holidays draw closer the Nativity catches my eye. I remember how the dog ate baby Jesus. That stupid, hungry dog that is never satisfied, just gobbles up all in her path.

It makes me think of the marketing and the chaos that has become Christmas. The hub-bub over even being aloud to say “Merry Christmas”. That hungry dog reminds me of the stress and pressure that happens at this time of the year, and tries- like Sami- to snatch Jesus from His place, and make us forget He was ever there. That leaves us with a Nativity, that is empty, without meaning.

It’s early December- my tree is up- (but not decorated.. will do that Wednesday when Dh comes home from a business trip) my excel spreadsheet is made, with all the gifts I’ve yet to buy. I can hear the stress and pressure hounds barking at the door.

But this year- I’m not letting them in. I’m making a goal, to keep Jesus in my holiday season. Not as a pert marketing slogan… but as a point of perspective. I will choose to focus on HIM not- on all the other stuff…There will be no dog’s eating up baby Jesus, this year.

The question??? How the heck am I gonna do that?

Here is my plan- There are 24 Chapters in the book of Luke. Each day, I am carefully and mindfully reading one chapter. It begins with The Birth of John foretold and continues through out the birth of Jesus and Jesus Ministry. I am writing questions in the margins.. not letting my mind go on “auto pilot” but thinking and praying through each verse. Does anyone know what a tetrarch is???

One chapter per day- to refocus our eyes on the Jesus who is the reason for Christmas. Not just the tiny baby Jesus, but the Savior Jesus. I’m putting Christmas, back into the context of the Gospel!

I’ll be posting my thoughts here-on Tuesdays, and on my blog in-between. I’m hoping you’ll join me.

Just click the link. Start right now. Let’s not let the dog eat Baby Jesus again!

Yes– the actual- No Jesus- one winged Nativity!

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