When I was but four years old, I was intrigued by the story of Jesus' birth — the shepherds, the angels, the manger. I loved to hear Luke's version read from the Bible - again and again and again.
My parents read it to me from the big family Bible with its beautiful prints of Old Masters as illustrations. They gingerly guided my small fingers across the verses as they read. It wasn't long until I was saying the words with them and pushing my own finger over the words fully convinced that I was 'reading.' I was very proud of myself and insisted that I 'read' the Bible to every visitor who walked through the door that holiday.
Of course, I do not remember a bit of this incident. After all, I was only four. But, the story became a part of our family lore — a story that has been told time and time again each Christmas as my mother set up her beautiful nativity scene with the family Bible laying open before it.
My parents have recently scaled back. Leaving their lovely riverfront retirement home to move to a smaller home closer to family and doctors. Mother gave me that precious family Bible that she and Daddy had received a wedding gift.
While my children are barely into young adulthood, I am anticipating the future where grandchildren will wiggle on my lap amazed at the size of the Bible. I will run their fingers over the words as we read together “And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in their fields...”
Share your joy of the birth of our Savior this season with a young child with my personal favorite — the Second Chapter of Luke.
* Jan Allen is Director of Information Services for Granville County Schools and is a member of Oxford United Methodist Church.