Sheep

 I love Christmas - not so much for the Hallmark specials, or carols, or decorations, or presents, but mainly for the theology.

I love the church confesses that whatever is eternal, whatever is the ultimate reality, whatever is God, chooses to dwell in the particularity and vulnerability of the flesh. There is no disconnected spirit that's annoyed with all of our quirks and warts, but God chooses to dwell, to be in communion with the stuff of this earth, including slimy, smelly, pooping babies. (People always think babies are so cute, but once they've ruined your couch shooting poop out their diaper, cute is not the word that comes to mind.)

Nothing helps remind me of this miracle like Sophie's sheep. She gets so many characteristics from me, especially her crafting skills. 

And she accidentally caught him on fire in the Advent wreath during devotions last night. 

Always exciting at the Stage-Harvey house.

Here are Hannah's sheep & Elijah's sheep for comparison. 

The good news of Christmas is not "try harder to be like Jesus" (or your siblings in this instance). 

The good news is that God chooses to dwell in our messiness and beauty. God chooses to make love known not outside our flesh or as an escape from our disarray, but right in the middle of it all. 

I like the other parts of Christmas too, but the miracle of "God with us" brings me joy, like a little singed sheep hanging on the tree.