Part of school in December is inevitably the children’s Christmas program. After leading the children in practice for a number of weeks, it gets tiring hearing the same things again and again. My patience gets thin as I try to keep children focused and on task. There are days when I wonder if they will ever remember the words to songs and speaking parts. As we practice lining up and moving being parts I wonder sometimes if all this hassle is worth the effort. Yet, it usually turns out just fine.
In working with children on programs such as these, I always try to remind students that we are doing the program to glorify God and not to do a show. Yet, so everyone feels comfortable in what they are doing , we do need to go over things again and again. I try to encourage them to do their best, whether or not there is an audience present.
Do I do things right only when the “audience” is present? Oh, way too many times. I do like to put on a good “show” and appear to have it all together. And yes, I should be trying my best to do what’s right – but let’s face it, none of us can get it right all the time.
In this Christmas season it is so wonderful to know that God knows me for who I am and that He forgives me when I am repentent about not being whom I should. And – the message never gets old – Jesus loves us and He came to earth as a tiny baby to be our Savior. How blessed we are.
