A New Twist to the Christmas Star

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader:

Some stories just make me laugh out loud and this one will probably cause me some embarrassment in church one Christmas Eve as Luke’s Christmas Story is read.

The children’s Christmas pageant or skit with the pre-schoolers and toddlers always steals Christmas in most churches across America annually… but this true story took the prize.

A lesson for all of us that mistakes can bring about the best unforeseen rewards!

The children’s play was going exceptionally well in an old Alabama country church one Christmas Eve! The momentum was building for the Christmas Star to appear!

Four adorable toddlers in their robes and towel hats came out from the side of the auditorium with their backs to the audience -each holding a colorful two-foot placard.

Apparently the adult helper didn’t realize the children had walked on stage in reverse order!

The narrator said dramatically ” Then God sent the world a most beautiful gift from Above.” ( This was the cue for the silver tinsel cardboard STAR to fall down and dangle as the four toddlers turned around displaying the word-STAR!

The narrator yelled out STAR as the placards spelled out RATS-God’s gift to man!

The narrator was clueless as well as the toddlers but the audience exploded in laughter, clapping and even giving a standing ovation!

The preacher was laughing so hard he could barely collect himself and every year after… he delighted in announcing that year’s Children’s Christmas Pageant by saying ” Oh Rats! It’s that time again!” Without saying another word the congregation would start cackling.

The crowd got bigger every year with more donations than ever before!

So until tomorrow… Out of mistakes comes some of our best results!

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

***Don’t forget to say Rabbit Rabbit ” tomorrow-it is the first day of the month-July! A hot one but we also want it to be one worthy of fireworks, freedom, and kindness towards our fellow man!

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”
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2 Responses to A New Twist to the Christmas Star

  1. Rachel Edwards says:
    July 1, 2021 at 6:45 pm

    Funny and true story…Fred and I were at the kitchen table eating breakfast abd we pull up the blinds so we can see our backyard and the new window box and chimes given in Suzy’s memory. We were getting ready to read our 2 devotionals and Fred asked what day it was to read his and I said July 1st…Rabbit! He immediately said “Where is it” …I started laughing and told him about saying Rabbit …Rabbit in the 1st day of each month…too funny…
    Loved the entry today…and there are so many meanings to words today…someone gave Suzy a ceramic frog …Fully Rely On God…I had heard that but she had not…made her smile.

    Reply

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