Tis  the season to be … haughty?????? Well so it seems by the reports coming from our friends across the sea. Reporters in London have filed a report dealing with Christmas pageants preformed by children in their local schools. However, the story is not centered on the children, or even the child in the manger that inspires these theatrical performances. The focus of the report is dealing with the competitive parents that fork out hundreds of dollars for elaborate costumes for their child. It used to be burlap and bed sheets, but now these moms and dads are purchasing velour dressing gowns and luxury pashmina (I m so low class I don t even know what this is) shawls so their little one can shine like a star in the nativity play. They even have coined a phrase for landing a part in such school plays. Are you ready for it, are you sure? Well here it is; ‌manger chic.‍ One child wearing arctic fur throws for his part as a sheep. Some children are wearing bridesmaid dresses adorned with ivory. You guessed it; they are the angels on high. Ed Watson, form Debenhams department store chain, said, "The amount of money that some parents want to spend on their child's nativity play appearance would enable Baby Jesus to leave the stable and check into a five star hotel."
Everyone wants to be the star, to be noticed, and to shine. I suppose it is our nature to want to stand out will trying to fit in. Mr. Watson also said, "While we applaud parents for wanting to do their very best for their children, we feel certain that the story of the Nativitycan still be told using very simple materials.‍Some where or some how people have lost their focus on the One that out shines all. The baby in the manger is not some plaster cast statue. This baby really was born in a manger. He grew and lived just like every one of us. The difference is that his focus was you, and His focus was me. He gave His life on a cross that was surely mine. The nails that held Him there were meant for me. The spear that pierced His side was my destiny and my punishment for the sins that I have committed. It is not just the Christmas season that brings us to look deep into His eyes: it is with each day we long to be with Him and strive to live like Him, so some day our dream, our hope, will become our reality. Let Jesus be the center of your December, as well as all the days that follow.