That's Me!

 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. – 1 Corinthians 11:1

One of Luca’s frequent sayings is “That’s me!” At just two years old, he is quick to see something in others worth emulating. Whether it’s the main character of one of his favorite PBS shows or the lead singer in a music video, he wants to take on their persona. Sometimes he assigns a role to me too. Usually I just play along. 

When Advent arrived, I pulled out my What God Wants for Christmas play & learn activity set. I used its boxes containing the characters of the Nativity to tell the Christmas story to Luca – over and over again. Soon he recognized the characters and began opening the boxes himself, identifying each one as he went. One day when he pulled out Baby Jesus, he said, “That’s me!” In a split-second, something felt wrong, sacrilegious even. I couldn’t let him think he’s God. I blurted out, “No, you’re not Baby Jesus!” 

The Star: Bringing together the parts of the nativity story

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.     

—Luke 2:4-7

After viewing the delightful new holiday movie, The Star, with a couple of my grandkids, I decided to incorporate it in my Christmas card and quickly ordered nativity masks.