"The little Lord Jesus no crying he makes." Really? Let's not forget that the Lord Jesus was also the human newborn baby Jesus, as we're reminded in one of the best Christmas books ever—The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
Imogene had the baby doll but she wasn't carrying it in the way she was supposed to, cradled in her arms. She had it slung up over her shoulder, and before she put it in the manger she thumped it twice on the back.Luke 2:10
I heard Alice gasp and she poked me. "I don't think it's very nice to burp the baby Jesus," she whispered, "as if he had colic." Then she poked me again. "Do you suppose he could have had colic?"
I said, "I don't know why not," and I didn't. He could have had colic, or been fussy, or hungry like any other baby. After all, that was the whole point of Jesus—that he didn't come down on a cloud like something out of "Amazing Comics," but that he was born and lived...a real person. (73-74)
And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
That is one of my favorite books. When I was teaching school I read it every December to my students. They loved it because it is truly funny. I loved it because within the context of the story the mom reads the Christmas story from Luke 2. I could never have picked up a Bible and done that, but in that setting it was perfectly alright. When I was able to get a copy of the video, I would show that after I read the book. Eventually I was able to purchase a class set of the books and we would use that for our Reading class in December. A bit devious? Perhaps, but I rather claim God's promise that His Word does not return void.
I have to admit that I was not familiar with the book until last Christmas when Katelyn and CJ participated in the play at Bluefield College. Katelyn was an angel and CJ was one of the Herdman boys. From that point on, I was hooked!