Our house does not lack for Christmas decorations, but my sister-in-law’s place has just as much if not more, and is focused particularly on nativities.
They run the range from kitschy to classical, folksy to refined, abstract to realistic. Looking at them this afternoon, I slowly moved from bemused to genuinely curious, and found their diversity compelling and reflective.
I’ve always resented the depiction of baby Jesus as blond, blue-eyed and cherubic, as opposed to someone who might actually have lived in first-century Palestine.
And Nebraska Jesus is here, to be sure, but he is joined by Royal Families with African, Indigenous and South American faces, wisemen of metal, stone and sticks, families of forest animals and snow-people.
The beginning of one of history’s oldest and most famous blended families is reflected lovingly and imperfectly an astonishing 176 Times in Betty’s house (and that’s not counting the ones in the Christmas tree). Here are just a few of them. Let these families remind us how no two families are alike, how every one probably looks a little weird from the outside, and how each of them is at least a little bit miraculous.
Merry Christmas!
No comments:
Post a Comment