My Dog and Christmas
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Romans 8:19
Many of us have a nativity set sitting around for Christmas. If your nativity set is like most I’ve seen, you no doubt have a few animals sitting around it. There may be a cow or two, a sheep, even a camel if it is a fancy set! Of course, Joseph and Mary placed Jesus in a manger, which is a feeding troth for animals, so there certainly would have been animals close to His birthplace.
I’m not trying to be sacrilegious, but I have often wondered if the nativity scene were to take place in modern day America if there may be a cat or a puppy dog nearby. I’m certain my Yorkie dog, who knows well how to give unconditional love, would have been excited to welcome the baby Jesus!
It shouldn’t surprise us that animals may have witnessed the birth of the Christ child. Jesus was the Creator. He was with God from the very beginning, planning each intricate part of Creation. All creation, with the exception of man, naturally glorifies the Creator by unconditional obedience. A cow does as a cow is supposed to do. A camel is a camel is a camel. You don’t have to train a bird to tweet, it does as it was created to do.
The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. Psalm 104:21
The creation waits in eager expectation for God’s Son to be revealed! (Romans 8:19) This was the Creator! This was their Master, the Inventor of life!
I once read a story about a mother who found her nativity scene continually disrupted. She would enter the room to find all the pieces in one big pile. She would straighten it, put every piece back in place again, only to find it messed up a few hours later. One day she witnessed her daughter piling the pieces together. When questioned, the little girl replied, “Mommy, it’s Christmas! Everyone wants to be real close to Jesus!”
It’s Christmas! Don’t be surprised that the animals were present at Jesus birth! And keep them close in your nativity! Creation is praising its Creator! And don’t be surprised if you see a smile on a animal or two on Christmas day!
Just curious, what is your favorite animal of God’s creation?
Which animal fascinates you the most?
