Away In A Manger
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the days of Herod the king, some wise men came from the Far East to Jerusalem.
They knew many things… but mostly they knew about the stars.
When they saw such an extraordinary star in the sky, not found on any of their star maps, they took notice and remembered the ancient prophecies about the birth of a new king.
They followed the star all the way to Bethlehem. They brought very special and symbolic gifts to honour this baby king!
They gave him the gift of gold, to show that he would be a great King here on earth.
They gave him the gift of frankincense, because he is God come to be among us.
And they gave him the gift of myrrh, knowing that he would one day die to save us all.
I wonder...
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What is one of the most memorable gifts you have ever received? Why was it special?
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Do you think Mary and Joseph were surprised to see these visitors? Why or why not?
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Have you ever seen or held a newborn baby? What did you notice?
Reflection
Life is hard, it doesn’t always go according to plan.
Bringing a child into the world on a cold night, in a stable surrounded by animals, far away from your home and family likely isn’t part of the plan.
But even in the moments where nothing is as you imagined it, there can still be the potential for so much happiness, even in the smallest things.
