Putting The Reason Before The Season

It is hard to rival the joy that occurs when watching kindergarteners perform in a school play. And not just any play, but a performance that illustrates the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. It wasn’t politically correct or culturally sensitive or watered down in a way to disguise the true message. Just a simple story as it was always meant to be told.

This particular version of the nativity story was conveyed through the eyes of the animals that witnessed the miraculous birth. It was hilarious and heartfelt, reminding all in attendance why the faith of little children is so pure and so moving.



Mary Mac was the narrator for the beginning of the play, reciting lines that had impressive vocabulary words that would make any reasonable thesaurus cry for mercy. The following is what she memorized for her particular part:

“It’s bedtime at the stable and the menagerie is snoozing soundly. Suddenly two humans crash the scene! The humans’ donkey strikes up a conversation with the other animals. Their repartee gives a play-by-play of the birth of baby Jesus.”



(The precious donkey would actually exclaim, “Come on Mary! You can do it!” Mary, played by an especially demonstrative five year old, would hold up the plastic baby in triumph, precariously dangling by an ankle, waving the baby Jesus high in the air like an American flag at a fourth of July celebration.)

“There’s the trio of chickens who say everything in triplicate, the grouchy goat who’s trying to sleep...."



"...the cow, the chatty sheep and the wisecracking Mule. There isn’t a single human in this charming performance but still the complete Nativity is told.”



I held my breath as Mary Mac repeated these difficult lines in front of a very large audience, packed full with paparazzi parents yielding cameras and video recorders. I thought for sure that she would be distracted by the crowd, or at the very least by the unfortunate glare coming off of my braces.

But she stood tall, calmly giving her narrative without the first stumble or missed word.



(Excuse me while I gush about my own child, but it is warranted and of course, entirely biased, not to mention a resulting benefit derived from maintaining one's own personal blog.)

The children sang multiple songs in between each scene. Angelic voices that made each adult want to cry at the wholehearted belief that poured from their little hearts.



Frosty was so touched that he immediately jumped in, hoping to become a part of the infamous story.

A few of the angels became restless.









The shining star that led the wisemen and the shepherds to the stable was especially captivating.



Especially when she did this:



And this:



And this.



Nothing quite compares to the nativity story as told by five year olds. Children who proclaim before others - Frosty included - that their Reason comes unashamedly before the season.