Let me think now, it was about 15 years ago and we lived in the city just blocks from my job. I was doing what I loved, giving the elderly in the nursing home a reason to get up and get going in the morning. God gave me that gift, and it took me a few years, like 28 or so, to find out that it was mine. And He wanted me to use it to the best I could for Him.
Anyway, it was nearing Christmas and lots of people had been on our calendar to come and share the story and bring the plates of goodies. You never are short of visitors in a nursing home over the Christmas season because they are all willing to give, AND there are so many familiar songs to sing.
Up and down the halls it appeared you were on different streets as you turned a corner. One would be Candy Cane Lane, another Jingle Bell Blvd, and I don't remember the rest, it is unimportant to tell the story anyway. My wheels were always turning back then and I seemed to not be short on creativity. Not sure where that all went with age I guess, I gave it all away.
Connected to our home, which was one of the largest in the state, was an assisted living apartment complex. Some of the couples had a spouse in both places. The adjustment was so much easier with them only a few steps away from the one they had lived with for maybe 60 or more years. That is how it was with my stars of the nativity about to take place. It seems a bit sad that I cannot even remember their names, but I do remember that she was in a wheelchair and he was in a bathrob with a towel turban wrapped around his head. She held a baby that was the last one born to a staff member close to Christmas. I am sure that mom can tell you today that her baby was Jesus! How I wish I could too. Not that MY baby was Him but that I knew the child. "I can tell you that I do know the Man that child became".
Well I directed my one and only play. The actors were all over 85 or maybe 90. They walked in while the music played to the audience of staff of the Good Samaritan Village. Our angels were more angelic than any I have seen and the shepherds were using those staffs to hold their shaky legs up. Not tired from running to Bethlehem, but tired from all the years of hard work and caring for each other and probably some of us as well.
A comment from one of my coworkers, a couple days later, in a letter to the editor in the city said it all. "My Christmas was not going to be very happy this year with the loss of my parent. But seeing this Nativity acted out by these precious people, put it right back where it belonged" That is the spirit of Christmas. It is one of my favorite memories of Christmas past.