What's missing in your Activity Center?

The storage boxes were trudged in from the garage, one by one opened up to reveal the Holiday decor. A crimson table runner would go first on my storage chest that once belonged to my mother.  I carefully placed the stable that my husband made last year, but the characters were not in that same box.  Night time came, sunrise...another day to finish the decorating.  Hey, I figured it was still Thanksgiving weekend.  I was actually ahead of the game this year.  The stable would remain empty most of the week as I took on different tasks to fill my time.  

Later in the week, one of the neighbor children would come barging in the front door.  As he looked straight ahead at the empty stable, he would inquire, "Haven't you found all the 'activity center' yet?"  

"What?", I said...

He points towards my empty stable..."We have an 'activity center' too, except ours has people in it and some sheep. ...Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus..."

I started to giggle, "You mean 'Nativity Center.'"

Embarrassed, he just said, "whatever" and asked for Corey...

A mispronounced word or confusion?  Sure it was, but I saw into this a little more.  Don't we all have the "picture" of the stable and the characters in our brain?  My question to you is, how is that stable pictured in your heart? Does it remain empty?  Is that Baby Jesus in bubble wrap somewhere only to be occasionally let into your life when He will make you look and sound "spiritual?"  My little neighbor was right.  Jesus wants to be the "activity",  centered in our lives.  Christ's love is active, His grace is active, His words are active, His promises are active.  

This Christmas time, find the Christ child, unwrap His Goodness and Peace.  Share Him with all that they may see His Glory.  When Christmas is over, you won't have to feel that "let down" because the Christmas "Activity Center" will still remain in the center of your heart, everyday!  There is no need to keep Him wrapped up.   When we center Christ into the busy activities of our everyday lives,  the blessings will be many, just like the little bubbles we all love to pop on the bubble wrap. 

Merry Christmas to all!  Coleene 

Isaiah 9:5-7 (New International Version)

⁶ For to us a child is born,

       to us a son is given,

       and the government will be on his shoulders.

       And he will be called

       Wonderful Counselor,  Mighty God,

       Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace

       there will be no end.

       He will reign on David's throne

       and over his kingdom,

       establishing and upholding it

       with justice and righteousness

       from that time on and forever.

       The zeal of the LORD Almighty

       will accomplish this.