My first child was born on December 5. Having been a former Protestant and very accustomed to Christmas pageants, I thought she would surely be the perfect baby Jesus. Well, we Catholics don't do the Christmas pageant thing the same way and she did not make her theatrical debut that year. Subsequently, I had five more children at the appropriate time to potentially have another baby Jesus star. Not one in the bunch.
Well, this year I had an even greater gift. My beautiful granddaughter at six weeks old was baby Jesus and her amazing, fantastic momma was Mary. Baby Jesus was fussy and cried. Her mom got a little nervous but we assured her that it did not interrupt the music or the little angels dancing. Mary found a beautiful and discreet way to nurse baby Jesus in her Mary costume on stage in front of the entire crowd. Pretty much no one knew except those of us who knew her or regularly nursed babies. It was just as natural as God intended. At the point in the pageant where everyone comes to lay their paper hearts in the manger, giving our hearts to Jesus, our baby sat wide eyed in her Mama's arms looking radiant and perfect while her mama looked on equally as radiant and perfect. I could not help but shed a few tears as I watched with my arms around one of my sons. It was so much more than I could have ever had if one of my own had been in that role. To see my wonderful daughter with her beautiful baby in that place was the most precious gift I could ever receive.
I remember why I grew up - so I could be a mom. And now a nana. Maybe this parenting adult children isn't so bad.
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