Each year our church’s nursery school, Small World, invites me to tell the children, one class at a time, the Christmas story. They come into the sanctuary, and instead of just hearing the story, the children act it out.

“We need Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and angels,” I explained, as we prepared to reenact the sacred story.

Some were immediately clamoring, vying for certain roles, but one little boy held back entirely. He wouldn’t take any role in the pageant. “I’m not an expert at this,” he said. So, we allowed him to watch.

Finding the ones to play Mary and Joseph had its challenges this year. In one class of four year-olds, we thought we were ready to begin. There were Mary and Joseph, standing together and ready to make the long walk to Bethlehem, with the rest of the class walking along behind.

All of a sudden, Joseph, broke away from Mary, saying, “That’s it; I quit.” And he sat down. No amount of persuading would bring him back to assume his role. As soon as he had learned that he was going to have to hold Mary’s hand all the way to Bethlehem, he would have nothing to do with the part. And now none of the other boys would be Joseph either.

What to do? “We need a Joseph,” I pleaded to the class. “Who will be Joseph?”

A couple of girls raised their hands, and I picked one, and off they went, Mary and “Joseph” on their way to Bethlehem.

The next class provided an even more formidable challenge. Here was a class of ten, four year-old boys. But by then I had done this story five times with other classes and I made an executive decision. Mary and Joseph are so overrated. We can do this story without them. And we did. Every boy got to be a shepherd or an angel, and they did their parts well.

As each class is leaving the sanctuary, we always go over to the tree so they can look closely at the ornaments. These are ornaments not usually seen on Christmas trees and the children find each one fascinating.

Then it’s time to go. “What do we say to Pastor Rick?” asks the teacher as the children are leaving the room. “Thank you, Pastor Rick!”

“You’re welcome,” I returned. “Merry Christmas!”

To which one four year-old replied, “Happy Holiday!”

Happy Holiday, indeed.