Niki Anderson ~ Author & Speaker

With Christmas day soon ahead, Heather reminds us where to focus our affections. (Photo from FLICKR)

     For Heather, a black and white cat, Christmas was more than a season to anticipate a catnip mouse wrapped in red tissue under the tree. She taught everyone in the Simons' household a lasting lesson about Christmas.

     That year, Mrs. Simons purchased a creche. She and her children arranged each figure in the nativity while Heather watched nearby. Young Jolene Simons suspected Heather would be curious about the miniature family, shepherds and animals.

     "Heather looks pretty interested, Mom." Mrs. Simons nodded. But Heather waited for a later hour to do her sacred investigation of the holiday attraction.

     The creche was complete when Jolene laid a tiny facsimile of an infant in the barn-style bassinet. The holy family and the attending shepherds stood beside the manger in poses of adoration.

     The following morning the children hurried to the tree and plugged in the cord that lit the colored bulbs. But one of the children hesitated to admire the creche, and noticed. "Mom, baby Jesus is missing!"

     A thorough search of the house revealed the culprit. Kitty Heather had enjoyed a silent night with the Christ child snuggled under her chin. Jolene snatched the figure from the surprised cat and returned it to the manger.

     The following morning, the children found Heather with baby Jesus nestled between her paws. As before, Jolene returned the infant to the straw bed.

     On the third morning, the family suspected Heather would not likely be chewing curling ribbon adorning Christmas gifts or swatting at tree ornaments, or sniffing the fresh scent of pine boughs. Heather was focused on one thing only--the babe in the manger. She lay near the creche with the figure of Christ tucked under her neck.

     As Mrs. Simons looked on with the children, she seized the opportunity to reinforce the lesson Heather had demonstrated. "It looks like Heather is focused on the true meaning of Christmas," she said. "Not the tinsel; not the traditions. Maybe all of us need to place more emphasis on the birth of God's Son--the real celebrity of Christmas."

     The Simons children liked the suggestion that Heather had set a good example. Heather established the rightful prominence of the Christ child.

     Festivities intended to celebrate a person often distract from the person being commemorated. Even candy canes and poinsettias can divert attention from Jesus. Let's keep the em-paw-sis in the right place as we celebrate Christ's birthday this week.  

Niki Anderson, copyright 1999