I have a very early holiday memory that I think of each year.  I’m not sure how old I was but I couldn’t have been more than four, because I know the house we were living in at the time and I know we moved from there early in my fifth year.

We used to go to Sunday school at a church near our house.  I don’t remember much about that except I remember

Me (Laureen) aged five

the Christmas Pageant.

Christmas through the eyes of a small child is very wondrous. Little ones still believing in Santa Claus and finding wonder in the Baby Jesus story all while trying to be good so gifts will come and enduring sloppy kisses from Aunts and Uncles you don’t know.  The twinkling lights, the snow, the food.  To a child it is huge, magical, amazing.

I remember many Christmas celebrations, but this particular Christmas Sunday School Pageant memory is one of my favorites.

That year, I was in awe of the song Away in the Manger because my name was in the song.

I learned the song to perform with my Sunday School class.  We sang it together in practice and I told the teacher Baby Jesus had my name in the song.  She asked me what I meant?  I said he named the cows Laureen.

I don’t remember what expression she had on her face but she asked me to sing it to her. So I did.

Away in the Manager, no crib for a bed

The Little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head

The stars in the sky, look down where he lay

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay

The Cattle are Laureen

The poor baby wakes

But little Lord Jesus, No crying he makes

I love the Lord Jesus, look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh

So you see.  Baby Jesus named the cows after me.

I was special in the eyes of Baby Jesus.  And I have, through out my entire life, sang the song that way.

If you want to know the true meaning of Christmas, ask a child.

Christmas through the eyes of a child is the greatest gift of all.

(enjoy this sweet version of Away in the Manager https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxjG2GBjeBk)