Two Babes in a Manger
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department
of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles)
in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses,
the fire and police departments and 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. They 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 peices
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 and 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 US.
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 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 every 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 stary, 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 sholders 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.
You know it isn't WHAT you have in your life, but WHO you have
in your life that counts.
"Be stong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because
of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave
you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5b
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