Black Sheep Nativity

Lily, our almost 3 yr old granddaughter, likes to put on a show for her family from time to time.  So far it’s always been the same show, the biblical account of an angel visiting Mary to tell her she was going to give birth to God’s son, Joseph’s taking her to Bethlehem and the account of Jesus’ birth.  Her parents had informed us that if she said “put on a show” this is what she meant, rather than something to watch on TV.

We kept Lily this weekend and she did indeed want to put on her show for us.  We determined that performance time would be right before bedtime.  Grandpa was to be the narrator and I would help with props and sound.  As Director and Main Star, Lily took her roles very seriously.  She directed me to go upstairs and get the wooden cradle, baby, and a blanket for her costume.   When I came downstairs to put the cradle in place, she had just arranged a couch cushion on the floor which would be Mary’s bed and later also serve as donkey and manger.   She came over to have me arrange her robe and when she was satisfied walked over to the cushion and lay down.

Grandpa began, “Mary was sleeping.”   Mary shut her eyes tightly.  “An Angel visited Mary and told her that she was highly favored of God and had been chosen to give birth to God’s Son, that his name would be called Jesus.”  There was no movement, so Grandpa looked at me, and then said, “Mary woke up.”  Instantly Mary was awake and sitting up.  Grandpa continued, “Mary went to tell Joseph what had happened.”  Lily walked over to Grandpa and said, “You be Joseph.”  Joseph announced that he too had been visited by an angel, that he and Mary would be married, and that they were going to Bethlehem for the census.   End of Act I.

Act II began with Mary astride the donkey and the Narrator instructing her to ride more animatedly, which she did.  “Joseph and Mary made their way to Bethlehem, where they went to the inn to ask for a place to stay.”  Grandpa stage whispered to Lily, “the inn is over by the window”.  Mary moved to the window and Grandpa became the Innkeeper.  “I am so sorry but there is no room at the inn.  The best I can do is my stable, and you can have the cow’s hay for bedding.”   Mary walked back to the cushion, now a stable, and prepared a place to stay. 

Grandpa continued.  “Mary and Joseph went to the stable with all the animals.  And the baby was born and they named him Jesus as the angel had said.”  Mary went over to the cradle and picked up her baby doll.   “Mary was a very good mother, and she wrapped her baby in blankets carefully.”  Apparently this information was to be part of the show.   “That was the night a special star came out in the sky.”  Another stage whisper instructing her to look up at the ceiling fan light, and she dutifully gazed up at the “star”. 

“Over in the fields there were shepherds watching their sheep.”  Mary was informed that the fields were over by the door.  Then Grandpa had his brainstorm:  “Duke is out there with the shepherds.  Lily, wouldn’t Duke be a great sheep?”   Before the props manager could utter a sound, she let Duke in and after he sniffed around a little he actually lay down in the vicinity of the stable.    “And angels appeared to the shepherds telling of the good news, that this night a Savior was born.  The shepherds said let us follow the star and go see this thing that has happened.” 

And there was the little manger scene, complete with Mary in a long robe tending to her baby, a star shining overhead, and a 90 lb black “sheep” laying still by her side, looking perfectly composed, almost as if he knew exactly what he was doing.  Our very own Black Sheep Nativity.