Broken People

This morning, I was wrapping up my Christmas decorating. Let me back up a bit, and tell you about my Nativity set....

For Christmas '95, Duane's mother gave us a beautiful Nativity set. The figurines are porcelain, and very breakable!

The next year ('96), Ashley who was three at the time, was so intrigued with all of the breakable pieces. I set it up very low for her to see, and had even allowed her to pick them up and hold them under my supervision, but had told her that if mommy was not in the room, then it was "hands off". She did good at being obedient...most of the time.
One morning, while sitting on my bed, feeding Alex (3 months), I heard a crash! I went in to the Living Room to see what had happened, and there sat Ashley holding Joseph, or should I say, Joseph's remains, and a now head-less shepherd! I asked her what had happened, and she said, "Mommy, I was making the shepherd and Joseph kiss, and they broke!!!" After discussing that a shepherd and the step-father to the Messiah, most likely didn't kiss....I set out to pick up the shards of porcelain and then with super-glue, I mended the men!
I continued to use this Nativity set throughout the following years.

This year as I was unpacking my decorations for this festive holiday, I came across my box labeled "Nativity set". I set it on the floor and thought, "That set is so old...I need a new one!" I even had decided that I wouldn't use it this year.

So, that brings us back to this morning....I was finishing up the family room, and then putting all the empty rubber-maids back into storage, when I came across my Nativity set. I was sitting on the floor and feeling a tad convicted. I rationalized that I didn't have to have figurines of the Nativity setting out, in order to make Christmas about the Christ-child. But something drew me to open the box. When I lifted Joseph out of his packaging, I thought about how broken he was,
and it was as if I heard Christ say, "Sheila, I use broken people all the time!"

I then lifted the Shepherd out and his head fell off, and when Mary was unwrapped I noticed that her head covering was chipping off....they were all broken!

I sat in a heap on the floor of my Living Room and cried! Not because my Nativity Set was falling apart, but because, just like Mary, Joseph and the Shepherd, I too am broken. Sometimes, I imagine that people must look at me, and wonder what God can do with me...I know I wonder that myself? But that doesn't stop Him. He continues to bring me out of my hiding places and put me back together again, to be used to show the world that He will make all things beautiful-no matter what my condition is! He only needs our willingness...and through our brokenness and pain, His Glory is revealed!
This Fall has been one of great pain and trials for my family and at this very moment, I feel so chipped and scratched...I even think that my head might fall off if someone tips me the wrong way.

In all reality, when God made Holy arrangements to bring his Son into the world, He didn't pick perfect people! Joseph was a poor, Jewish carpenter, Mary was a teen-aged bride to be, and when the smelly shepherds showed up on the scene with their even smellier sheep...they caused Joseph and Mary to be very concerned! God used and still uses broken people!

Needless to say, my nativity set is out on display...so I won't forget this lesson!