Marcia Laycock, author and member of The Word Guild, wrote of a Christmas pageant at her church.

Chaos reigned supreme. That’s how it seemed as we rehearsed our Christmas play. …

That was nothing new. Every year it seems to happen. The choir director is tearing her hair out. Kids run helter-skelter, some don’t show up, some can’t find costumes or those made for them don’t fit.

I can identify. I’ve helped with  many Christmas pageants for more years than I can count. What stands out, like Marcia’s memory, is the miracle that the pageant comes off at all. Children, with all their energy, and perhaps nervousness about being in the play, bring their own personalities and experiences. And yes, some don’t show up all the time for rehearsals, making the director a tad nervous about how the thing will come off. 

Marcia writes of some rather amusing antics [if you’re not the director,that is]. Read the rest of her blog account here.

Next Friday my husband and I will be attending a production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The play is being performed at Theatre Woodstock, in Woodstock, Ontario. A friend of mine, along with her two young daughters, are in the production.

The story comes from Barbara Robinson’s book by the same title. It became a television special at Christmas which we watched with our children after reading the book.  The story is unforgettable. I replied to Marcia’s blog, telling her a bit about the plot. “The yearly Sunday School pageant is intercepted by the Herdman kids, who think nothing of lying, stealing and tormenting other kids, yet through the experience  they come face to face with the meaning of Christmas. ”

Tickets were selling fast when I ordered mine this week, but there’s always the book to read to a young school-age child.  Go get it and celebrate Christmas with new eyes for the season.