I pull out Great Grandma’s quilted wall hanging of the nativity scene and smooth out the wrinkles.
I dig around for the pocket advent calendar and find Nerf darts stuffed where the wise men and camels should be. Every year we lose a few more pieces.
I pull out the wooden nativity set from Aunt Marilyn and glue Mary’s head back on. It’s tradition.
I take the Jesus Storybook Bible down from the shelf to prepare for our nightly advent readings. Chapter two always makes me cry. The kids know.
We put on the Getty’s Irish Christmas album and hang ornaments on the tree.
And as the Christmas carols ring through the house, another refrain rings in the back of my mind:
Is it enough?
Every year Christian parents strive to make Jesus the center of the holidays. We fight against culture, crowds, materialism, and busyness. “Christmas is about Jesus. Christmas is about Jesus,” we remind ourselves as we boot Elf on the Shelf to make room for Mary on the Mantle.
While we strive for this worthy goal, a creeping guilt gnaws at our hearts. Are we making it about Jesus enough? Are we telling the right stories?
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