"...It's time! It's time!" the animals say to one another with great anticipation!
I suddenly feel a little kick on my shin. Ow. I must have been bumped accidentally by a kid in the front row. I ignore it and keep reading.
The animals sing out, "The One who made us has come to live with us!"
Ow. Another kick on the shin when I return to the left side of the room. Who is doing that? But I ignore it because I am really into my dramatic presentation...
"A Light to light up the whole world!"
Ow! This time it really hurt. I pause from my story to look down at the mischievous giggling imp who dares to kick me, the Christmas story reader, in front of the whole church, in the middle of this sacred time-honored tradition...
"Sophia!" I whisper with a withering look. "Stop kicking me!"
"Okay!" she whispers back.
"And they gazed in wonder at God's great gift!..."
After the service, a friend tells me how great it was to see Sophia kicking me. The moment made him feel a little better about his own parenting.
Well, at least someone was inspired this holy night...
