Pearl watched for a moment as Robert rearranged the pieces in the Nativity Scene, swapping places with the characters. Currently, the kings and shepherds were allowed the closer view of the Child, but in a moment the animals would have the privilege. 

Taping up the last box of Christmas décor, Pearl thought, I’m going to have to get him to do what he’s supposed to, although I know he’s having fun playing with the set.  Help me be gentle, Jesus.

“Hey Rob,” she said softly, “Now it’s time for them to rest for till next Christmas. Now please do what Queen Mother asked and wrap each piece, so we can put them with the other holiday stuff. OK? Then we can get you a cookie.”

"”K," Rob said quietly, but Pearl heard a sniffle. Is he crying? she thought, trying to see if there was a tear on his cheek, without walking over to him. Maybe he will miss Jesus. But I have to help him know God is with us every moment!

“I’ll be right back,” she said. “I’m going to take these boxes to the back porch, so we can recycle them, OK?”

He nodded, but didn’t say anything, while he continued to rearrange the figures.

When she returned, Robert was sitting there staring at Baby Jesus, and he was holding one of his action figures. The action figure was right in front of Jesus, with his hands raised in worship.

That’s so cool, Lord! Pearl thought, as her heart filled with joy.

“Hey Rob-Rob,” she said, and smiled big. “Your super-hero is very wise—he is worshipping The Ultimate Hero—the Lord Jesus Christ! Way to go!”

She went up to him and did a high-five.  He laughed and said, “Yeah! Jesus has more power than my guys!”

He’s right! Pearl thought. Hey Jesus! Some of your teaching is getting into him! Great!

She said, “Rob, we need to finish, so we can vacuum and then help Queen Mother and Uncle Burt put up the rest of the stuff. Then she said you could play a video game, after everything is done.”

“OK, yeah!” Robert said.  He took his action figure and carefully lifted Baby Jesus up. “Please forgive us, Baby Jesus, but You’ve gotta go away for a long time--till next Christmas, OK?”

Pearl smiled, and just watched him.

Oh, that is so sweet! Pearl thought. Lord, keep making Yourself real to Him, so He knows You are with Him every moment, alive, that You grew up, and are not just in a box most of the year!

“Thank goodness!” she said, suddenly so thankful to God.

“Huh? Are you happy He’ll be gone?”

“No, I’m just so happy He grew up and is with us always.”

“Huh? But He’s going to sleep now. You said to put Him up.”

She was about to argue, but heard the Holy Spirit say softly in her heart, Be kind. "I know you’ll miss Jesus," she said, then had a flash of the manger scene in the middle of a grassy meadow, with the hot sun overhead, trees and shrubs in full bloom.

Suddenly she understood. Thank You, Lord! You know all things! She thought, and giggled.

“Are you laughing at me?” Robert said, holding Baby Jesus close to his heart.

“No! Guess what, Rob-Rob?! The Lord just showed me that we who love Him celebrate Christmas all year! Besides, it's a free country, and we can leave our Nativity scene out all year if we want to!"

"Yay!" Robert said, and jumped up and clapped his hands. “Hey Pearl! Let’s put it in my room!”  

“Well, let’s ask Queen Mother,” said Pearl. “But I bet she’ll say yes, because I know you have a shelf you can put it on to look at. I don’t know if you can play with it, but you can look at it all year and be happy.”

“Great!” he said, holding his action figure and the little Jesus. “Let’s go ask!”

Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. They lift Him up in books (P.O.W.E.R. Girl!; LEGACY; Visions of the King; Your Holy Health; more); presentations; service in church, community, and the world; and via the "River Rain Creative" (309 videos) and "POWERLight Learning" You Tube channels.