Three years ago, I shared some thoughts on one of my favorite stories, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”, a short book by Barbara Robinson, copyrighted in 1972. This is a story with both humor and substance, and I just had to pull it out, rework it and share it again. It’s a reminiscence by the author of when she was about 11 or 12 years old, and features a family of six absolutely terrible children. Their father is absent and their mother worn to a frazzle working in a factory, just trying to pay the rent and buy food. So the kids run wild through the small town, where they steal, get in fights, smoke cigars, set fires, and generally terrorize the rest of the children. Their reputation is so frightening, they get away with a lot just by suggesting what awful things can happen to anyone who crosses them.
Then, as something of a prank, a boy who attends the local church tells them that cake and cookies are served at Sunday School, so they come slouching in, looking for treats, and hanging around, unnerving both children and teachers. When the Christmas pageant plans are announced, they decide to participate, eventually getting the lead parts by being so intimidating to the others that they don’t even try out. To say the least, rehearsals are not at all like they were in the past.
As they hear the familiar story for the first time, these dreadful youngsters start quizzing the teachers — why didn’t anyone give Mary and Joseph a nice place to stay? Why didn’t the Three Kings bring better presents? Why didn’t somebody do something about the evil King Herod who wanted to hurt a baby? These weren’t questions that typically arise at Christmas program practice. But the story of the First Christmas is brand new to this rough little family, and they have a whole different take on it. Isn’t it interesting that children who were so ill-cared for, both at home and in their community, were so focused on caring for and protecting the infant Jesus?
At the performance, Imogene, playing Mary, was looking confused and uneasy, but she also appeared ready to protect her baby at all costs. Somehow the program stumbled along (as most children’s programs do) and at it drew to a close, Gladys, playing the Angel of the Lord, with dirty sneakers and uncombed hair, enters and yells at the shepherds, “Hey! Unto you a child is born!” And however elegantly or not the announcement is phrased, this is what every one of us needs and longs to hear — the good news of a great joy to ALL the people. That means not just those who by worldly standards are smart, handsome, and successful, but also to the lost, the lonely, the sinners, and the failures. That means no one is left out, no one excluded, and not only do we hear this glorious news, we get to share it!
“And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:10
Christmas blessings to all,
Mary Rogers