"Mama, why do we have new decorations this year? I liked my little white poinsettia that I wore between my ears!" Little Angelina looked questioningly at Mama Wart, and fiddled with the new beaded wreath that now sat on her little head.
"Oh, honey, that old poinsettia was falling apart, as was mine. We were definitely due for something new, and I think Grandma Sue came up with some lovely new looks for us! Just look at the boys! Hiram and Harold have not just one little ball on their tails, but a whole bouquet of red balls that shimmer in the daytime AND the nighttime. They are having so much fun showing them off. Even Papa Wart got a new little spring of greenery added to his favorite cap, and I couldn't be happier with my beautiful new wreath that looks just like a halo on my head!"
"But Mama, why do things always have to change? Why can't things just stay the same all the time? I think change is scary, don't you Mama? It makes me feel like I never know what will happen next." Angelina scooted just a little closer to her mama.
"Why, of course change is scary, sweetheart! But can you ever remember a time when we had a change that didn't turn out to be for the best? Just think about last year and those crazy Christmas lights that somehow got wrapped around and around us, but yet, we ended up having a good laugh about it."
"That was pretty funny, wasn't it? Well, I guess you're right, Mama. When Grandma Sue moved us to this apartment, I wasn't sure I would like it here, but everyday I get to watch people walking by below our balcony, and Mama, did you know that there are some really strange people out there? I know Jesus loves them all, and I try to love everyone too, because I want to be like Jesus, but there are some people that are really hard to love, aren't there? "Angelina looked pointedly at her two brothers, Hiram and Harold, who by this time had become bored with running around trying to catch each other's tail, and started focusing on annoying Angelina.
Mama laughed. "Yes dear, there are lots of people who are hard to love, but you are so right to say that Jesus loves them anyway, and we must try to do the same. Boys, why don't you both go find your Papa and see what he's up to -- you might be missing out on something fun!"
"Aw, Mama," Hiram replied, "Papa is doing the same thing he is always doing -- taking a nap!
Harold added, "I can hear him snoring from here!"
"You are so right, boys, I can hear him too! But you know what I think? I think you just need to go in there and tell him it's time for a change and that you want him to take you for a walk to show off your new Christmas style!"
"You come with us, Mama. He might get mad at us for waking him up! You know how grumpy he is sometimes."
"Oh, all right, let's all go together, shall we? I have an idea. Let's sneak up on him and sing, 'What Child is This!' He can't get mad at us for singing such a beautiful song, and since it's a song about sleeping, it will be perfect!" The children all laughed and jumped up and down at the great idea Mama had. It wasn't often that they actually got to wake Papa up -- Papa loved his naps.
As they got close to Papa, Mama looked at the kids and they all started to sing together,
What Child is this,
Who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Papa began to snort as he tossed and turned, trying to figure out who or what was disturbing his sacred nap time. But as he fully awoke and heard the beautiful music coming from his family, and saw their angelic faces, his heart melted and he quietly sat and smiled as they finished the song.
"Family, that was the loveliest serenade I have ever had! It was worth being awakened from my nap to hear you all singing about the Baby Jesus. You have just put me in the best Christmas mood ever!" And with that, he gathered them all in close and put a big kiss on the tip of each of their noses!
Amid all the laughter, suddenly Papa was heard to say something that forever removed Angelina's fear of change. The change in her Papa was not one she would soon forget. "Family, your voices are too good to keep to ourselves. I say we go down the street and sing Christmas Carols for everyone we meet! What do you say? And then we can stop for hot chocolate before we come back home." Papa smiled his biggest smile ever as he looked at the astonished faces of his family. "What? I mean, we have new Christmas outfits, we have Baby Jesus to sing about -- what more could we ask for? Let's go share all this change and excitement with the world!"
And sure enough, that's exactly what they did. As they huddled up and headed for the street, their voices could be heard loud and strong, singing,
O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior's birth.
"Oh, honey, that old poinsettia was falling apart, as was mine. We were definitely due for something new, and I think Grandma Sue came up with some lovely new looks for us! Just look at the boys! Hiram and Harold have not just one little ball on their tails, but a whole bouquet of red balls that shimmer in the daytime AND the nighttime. They are having so much fun showing them off. Even Papa Wart got a new little spring of greenery added to his favorite cap, and I couldn't be happier with my beautiful new wreath that looks just like a halo on my head!"
"But Mama, why do things always have to change? Why can't things just stay the same all the time? I think change is scary, don't you Mama? It makes me feel like I never know what will happen next." Angelina scooted just a little closer to her mama.
"Why, of course change is scary, sweetheart! But can you ever remember a time when we had a change that didn't turn out to be for the best? Just think about last year and those crazy Christmas lights that somehow got wrapped around and around us, but yet, we ended up having a good laugh about it."
"That was pretty funny, wasn't it? Well, I guess you're right, Mama. When Grandma Sue moved us to this apartment, I wasn't sure I would like it here, but everyday I get to watch people walking by below our balcony, and Mama, did you know that there are some really strange people out there? I know Jesus loves them all, and I try to love everyone too, because I want to be like Jesus, but there are some people that are really hard to love, aren't there? "Angelina looked pointedly at her two brothers, Hiram and Harold, who by this time had become bored with running around trying to catch each other's tail, and started focusing on annoying Angelina.
Mama laughed. "Yes dear, there are lots of people who are hard to love, but you are so right to say that Jesus loves them anyway, and we must try to do the same. Boys, why don't you both go find your Papa and see what he's up to -- you might be missing out on something fun!"
"Aw, Mama," Hiram replied, "Papa is doing the same thing he is always doing -- taking a nap!
Harold added, "I can hear him snoring from here!"
"You are so right, boys, I can hear him too! But you know what I think? I think you just need to go in there and tell him it's time for a change and that you want him to take you for a walk to show off your new Christmas style!"
"You come with us, Mama. He might get mad at us for waking him up! You know how grumpy he is sometimes."
"Oh, all right, let's all go together, shall we? I have an idea. Let's sneak up on him and sing, 'What Child is This!' He can't get mad at us for singing such a beautiful song, and since it's a song about sleeping, it will be perfect!" The children all laughed and jumped up and down at the great idea Mama had. It wasn't often that they actually got to wake Papa up -- Papa loved his naps.
As they got close to Papa, Mama looked at the kids and they all started to sing together,
What Child is this,
Who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Papa began to snort as he tossed and turned, trying to figure out who or what was disturbing his sacred nap time. But as he fully awoke and heard the beautiful music coming from his family, and saw their angelic faces, his heart melted and he quietly sat and smiled as they finished the song.
"Family, that was the loveliest serenade I have ever had! It was worth being awakened from my nap to hear you all singing about the Baby Jesus. You have just put me in the best Christmas mood ever!" And with that, he gathered them all in close and put a big kiss on the tip of each of their noses!
Amid all the laughter, suddenly Papa was heard to say something that forever removed Angelina's fear of change. The change in her Papa was not one she would soon forget. "Family, your voices are too good to keep to ourselves. I say we go down the street and sing Christmas Carols for everyone we meet! What do you say? And then we can stop for hot chocolate before we come back home." Papa smiled his biggest smile ever as he looked at the astonished faces of his family. "What? I mean, we have new Christmas outfits, we have Baby Jesus to sing about -- what more could we ask for? Let's go share all this change and excitement with the world!"
And sure enough, that's exactly what they did. As they huddled up and headed for the street, their voices could be heard loud and strong, singing,
O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior's birth.
