Blog: Mel's Muse - Ten Thoughts At Christmas

Posted: Tuesday, 23rd December 2008

Happy Christmas

A hot debate in The Daily Telegraph has dubbed the family Christmas letter as ‘self-congratulatory’, ‘embarrassing’ or ‘derisory’. Am I alone in enjoying news of far-flung family and friends? I hope not, because this one comes with a very sincere thank you to all of you who have visited my website in the (nearly) six months since its inception, and my Best Wishes for a Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. Plus a comment on the photograph.

My daughter brought these little figures back from a school visit to Nigeria when she was nine years old. Together they form a Nativity Scene. I love it because:

It cost very little – unlike the huge sums that will be spent by so many people this Christmas
It is tiny and insignificant – compared with the hype and razzmatazz that is Christmas today
It is simply and crudely carved – unlike the glitz and sophistication demanded by Western civilisations these days
It was lovingly made by simple people who are content with far less than we have
Mary, Joseph and Jesus, the three Kings and the shepherds have black faces and care nothing for being politically correct
They remind me of the daughter whose childish excitement was so infectious, and who died at the age of thirty leaving her baby motherless
They remind me of Jesus, who gave up everything to be born a baby, raised as a child and live as a man
They remind me of Emmanuel – God with us – no matter what
They remind me of the cost to God that surpasses all the world’s wealth put together
They remind me of the Gift of God that surpasses all other gifts