KENT: Small reminders of the real reason for Christmas Day

Last week, I was at my husband's office Christmas party. It had included families, and there were children there having a wonderful time.

Two little boys especially put a big smile on my face and helped to remind me about the real reason for Christmas Day.

One was happy and excited and showed everyone there a dance that he had learned in PE. He told me all about where his Elf on the Shelf had been hiding and what he was asking from Santa Claus.

The other appeared while I was cutting my husband a piece of cake and asked me to cut him one, too. When I said I would be glad to, he offered his hand out for me to place the piece on his palm but I suggested that a plate might be better. He didn't seem too impressed with the plate idea but we got one anyway. I offered a fork, but he said no and proceeded to eat it off the plate with his mouth.

So I guess he was right, in his hand would have been much more practical.

Little boys and Christmas. For me they go hand in hand. Maybe it's because I just had boys so while I don't understand them completely, nobody does,I do have an appreciation for them.

This time of year, there is one little boy in particular that I appreciate.

"And so it was," the Bible tells us, "that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

The Bible tells us a lot about the birth of Christ, his ministry on Earth and his death and Resurrection. His childhood is not mentioned as much. I like to think of Jesus as a little boy, maybe doing a dance for grown-ups, eating cake straight from a plate with no utensil. The reason I think about Christ's time on this Earth as a boy with such great fondness is that for me, it shows the great miracle of his birth. Not just that God came to Earth, but that he came as a human, living on this earth and experiencing all the things that we do.

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men."

Alline Kent can be contacted at allinekent@cox.net or 396-2467.

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 12:50 PM with the headline "KENT: Small reminders of the real reason for Christmas Day ."