Reason for the season

Two Babes In A Manger

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian

Department of Education to teach in Russia. They were invited to teach

at many places including a large orphanage.

About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the

care of a government- run program were in the orphanage. The two

Americans relate the following story in their own words:

It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear,

for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them

about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem.

Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the Baby

Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the

children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened.

Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.

Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of

cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper

square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper

was available in the city.

Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid

strips in the manger for straw.

Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady

was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby's blanket.

A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United

States.

The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to

see if they needed any help.

All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked

to be about 6 years old and had finished his project.

As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one,

but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to

ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger.

Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger

scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.

For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he

related the happenings accurately--until he came to the part where Mary

put the Baby Jesus in the manger.

Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story

as he said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked

at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.

I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any

place to stay.

Then Jesus told me I could stay with Him. But I told Him I couldn't,

because I didn't have a gift to give Him like everybody else did.

But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had

that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept Him warm,

that would be a good gift.

So I asked Jesus, "If I keep You warm, will that be a good enough

gift?" And Jesus told me, "If you keep Me warm, that will be the best

gift anybody ever gave me."

"So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I

could stay with Him---for always."

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that

splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his

head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed.

The little orphan had found Someone who would never abandon nor abuse

him, Someone who would stay with him--FOR ALWAYS.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but Who you have

in your life that counts.