Nativity Scenes

I grew up in Texas. I loved the outdoors and the sun kept me tanned all year. I attended a Christian school during my elementary school years. As soon as possible after Thanksgiving, we would begin practicing for our yearly Christmas program, which always featured a live nativity scene.

Every year I hoped that I would be chosen to play the role of Mary, but each year the role went to one of the girls with a light complexion, blue eyes, and long blonde hair. With my tanned skin, dark hair, and dark eyes, I never fit the image the teachers had of Mary, even though my features and those of my Hispanic classmates were probably closer to the actual appearances of people from Israel.

When I grew a little older, I noticed pictures in churches depicting a handsome Jesus with light skin, light hair, and blue eyes. I remember thinking that it was silly to paint Jesus that way, when everyone knew that he was a Jew from the Middle East. I didn’t understand why people made him look European.

Then one Christmas season, I became curious, and went online looking for depictions of nativity scenes from around the world. I typed in “Korean Nativity Scene” and “Ethiopian Nativity Scene” and “Brazilian Nativity Scene” and “Swedish Nativity Scene” and many others.

Nativity scenes, from every nation I could think of, depicted Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child with skin color, hair color, eye color and clothing just like theirs. Jesus was born for me, and for you, and for all who believe in him. I finally realized that Christians from every part of the world understand and celebrate the miracle of Christmas as their very own! What a wondrous joy!

May the miracle of Christmas be yours!