More manger

I was alone in the car with Asa yesterday. He sat, strapped into his car seat behind me, looking at giant board books and then tossing them onto the floor - his car-riding ritual. I had the radio set to a local station that plays Christmas music 24 hours a day through Christmas Day.


As we drove, "Away in a Manger" began to play. I sing this song to Asa almost every night at bedtime, and he recognized it as soon as it came through the car speakers. I watched him in the rear view mirror; for the entire song he sat completely still, gazing out the window. Then the song was over.

"More?" he asked. "More manger?"

Those two little words struck me like a ton of bricks.

More manger. He wanted more manger.

Isn't that what I should want, too?

I should want more manger, more Jesus. But is that what I'm truly seeking out this Christmas? Or do I want more stuff, more material things I think will make me happy, more things I think will make my kids happy?

I pulled into a parking spot when we reached our destination. I turned around to look at the tiny face of my sweet 23-month old son.

Thank you, sweet boy, for the reminder of what's really important, of what this holiday is really all about: the Son of God coming to earth as a sacrifice to pay the price of our salvation. What an incredible story, beginning in a manger. What else could I possible need when I have Him?

More manger, please.