Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

A Favorite Christmas, Do Tell!

               Starandjesuspincoreyama_2

                         "…and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6

When I was fourteen my Mother had her fifth and last child, a boy that my Father named Zane.

My other three brothers and I were excited to tell our baby brother about Baby Jesus. We repeatedly told him the Christmas story, telling him that on Christmas morning he would be the one to put the "baby Jesus" in the manger.

Of course on Christmas morning we jumped at of bed bright and early, what child doesn't who believes in Santa and celebrates Christmas? Zane seemed to be a bit lackadaisical about the whole thing, and that struck us as odd. But hey he was only a little tot so we figured he didn't really get it yet.

My brothers and I raced into the kitchen, each one of us wanted to be the first one to give baby Jesus to our baby brother Zane. But to our surprise, we could not find it. We searched and searched for baby Jesus. Where had he gone? What happened? Hadn't we put him in the kitchen drawer? Who saw him last? After which seemed an eternity looking for the main nativity character, we noticed Zane crying. Gee, maybe he did get it after all. We felt bad for him, poor little guy. We told him not to cry that Jesus lives in our hearts and that the missing plastic baby Jesus was not the real thing, and that Christmas would go on.

Zane looked up to us with his big brown eyes and said, "I threw the baby Jesus in the fire. He was getting too much attention."

We were dumbfounded.

We have never let Zane forget his Jesus toss.

 

 

Do you have a favorite Christmas tale to tell?

Comments

28 responses to “A Favorite Christmas, Do Tell!”

  1. georgie

    It was the first Christmas after Dad had passed and the first one in my new home. The guests were Favorite Uncle, Favorite Aunty and Cousin. Favorite Uncle was a dear soul; very devout, never drank, smoked or danced. I had a cat named after my father (Dad said if I had kids not to name them after him-he didn’t say anything about a cat). Traditionally we put the used gift wrap and not reusable bows in a big box. Uncle got up to condense the contents and stomped on the box with one foot. Kitty came flying out. Uncle danced a jig for many seconds, while we all laughed loudly and the cat gave us the stink eye. Wish Dad woulld have been there, he would have been laughing the loudest.

    Reply
  2. Kristin McNamara Freeman

    Corey
    What a wonderful, vibrant family story! Remembering stories is what keeps the life of a family history stay fresh in the minds of generation after generation. As I share this holiday with my daughter, grandchildren and two visiting nieces I will prepare by looking for photos from Christmas’s past and spend some time recalling stories to share. Thank you for your story and for the kindling of awareness within me of how important this act is in the history and life of a family system.
    Holiday blessings to you and yours,
    Kristin

    Reply
  3. Paulita

    What a great story. Thanks for sharing. Still building Christmas memories here. Someday I’ll have a favorite story to tell.

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  4. Ione

    I love that story. I am the only girl with 2 brothers. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. They were a thorn in my side but always had my back. Love them so much.

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  5. Marilyn

    What an amazing family story, so funny. Mine I think would be the time when I was about 6 or 7 and we were at my aunt and uncles for Christmas. My little cousin wanted a baby doll so much that she started peaking in packages on Christmas eve. She saw a baby doll in one of the packages and was so excited that she was getting that baby doll. The next morning there were many tears as the baby doll was for my little sister. Oh how I wish I could have given her the baby doll she so wanted.

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  6. Jennie

    My funniest Christmas memory is how every year without fail, my parents would argue about which tree to pick in the tree lot, how to put up the tree and what position it should be turned, then they would argue about how my Dad was putting up the lights, and then the placement of the ornaments. Every year! It was annoying to my brother and I at the time but looking back, it makes me laugh and is one of my fondest Christmas memories. They have been married 42 years. As for my hubby and I, he puts up the tree, I put up the lights and ornaments (he could care less where they go), and he takes them all down. He seems to enjoy “de-Christmassing” a little too much, but I won’t complain because I don’t have to do it. 😉

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  7. Amy Kortuem

    Corey that is HILARIOUS. Has your brother made up with Jesus yet?
    I don’t have a Christmas story, but I have a birthday story (my birthday is December 19th, so it’s close enough…)
    On my birthday in 1998, I had just gotten a divorce and was sad and depressed and kind of reeling from the emptiness in my house. My Mom came over in the morning told me to turn around and not look at her. I could hear her laughing and snorting and wiggling behind me, so I finally turned around and saw that she was trying to tie a big pink bow around the neck of a tiny kitten she was hiding in her coat! That cat, my Jingle Belle, has been my best giflfriend, my constant companion and nap partner ever since. Best present ever.

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  8. Ann

    So many to pick from but I was thinking about this the other day.
    In Catholic school we were in the choir and the priest often said we sounded like angels. One year at Christmas time, someone organized us to go “Caroling” to all of our homes. We piled in the back of three trucks and when we came to my house someone rang a hand bell and we began singing. It was such a joy to see my parents come outside and enjoy our singing. It was a lot of fun and I wonder why this isn’t done anymore.

    Reply
  9. Lorretta from NH

    Our story is similar to yours except it was with a much older youngest child. My Son joined the army at 21 and headed off to boot camp. Then he was stationed in Kansas to be very soon after deployed to Iraq. He was there for 18 months. During that time Christmas did not have exactly the same meaning for us regarding the gift giving end of things and laying Jesus in his manger had always been our sons duty so we did not concider placing him there as a matter of fact we did even think of doing it in his place. So, after our son returned home in Jan from his tour and was home only nine months when he was deployed to Afghanistan. While he was there he called us just before Christmas that year,He wanted me to put Baby Jesus in the manger for him and then TOLD ME WHERE HE HAD HIDDEN(?) HIM, waiting for his return from boot camp and was wondering why we had not asked him about him………Didn’t we feel dumb! Not a funny story for sure but certainly the family will all remember the lost Jesus.

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  10. Brenda L. from TN.

    …..well, certainly not like Zane’s….my Goodness! Threw Baby Jesus in the fire!!??? LOL!

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  11. Orama

    We told him not to cry that Jesus lives in our hearts and that the missing plastic baby Jesus was not the real thing, and that Christmas would go on. I think it was more like, we told Zane that he was a dip shit and he would burn in hell for burning baby Jesus.

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  12. Jackie

    Is this the same guy who bites the heads off the turkeys???

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  13. Delphine

    Children were about 8 and 9 or so, and had put in an order for bicycles. Money was tight but we managed to get them. Under the tree on Christmas morning there were two bicycle pumps. Children were execited but soon disappointed when they couldn’t find the necessary bicycle for the pumps. I explained that Father Christmas had had a tough year and they would receive their bicycles in installments. Next year they would get wheels and the year after a seat and so on. It took the wind out of their sails. They looked at the other little things that were under the tree and tried to be happy.
    The bikes were hidden in the laundry. I told them the cat needed feeding and that they should do it together. Neither of them cared less about the cat and could starve today – they didn’t have bikes. I almost had to yell at them to feed the cat in the laundry – together. Recluctantly they did and two sad little souls exploded with happiness when they had to manipulate the door open to find two shiny (not brand new I’m afraid) bikes with signs on them. Whoopee! I had sat up late that night making the signs and sprinkled them with glitter.
    I explained Father Christmas had a sense of humour, and hadn’t wanted to wake them trying to get the bikes in the lounge room. The memory of their faces still makes me smile and this story often gets told at the Christmas table each year.

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  14. Zosia

    When I was little, I used to sit under the Christmas tree, the tree all dressed up in twinkling lights, beautiful glass baubles, silver angel hair (tinsel) and I imagined that it was a beautiful lady, going to a ball in her rich, jewel incrusted gown.

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  15. deb

    The MIA Baby Jesus reminds me of the creche displayed at one of our relatives. They lost Joseph several years ago, and replaced him with a Rambo action figure – in full camoflage and packing an assault rifle. I laugh every time I see it.

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  16. Tongue in Cheek

    Dear Brother Orama
    LOL!!! Great come back!
    This is why I am the favorite sister and you are the oldest brother 😉 Tough guy!
    Your Sweet Sister who never says the S word.

    Reply
  17. deborah

    That is so funny! Kids do some of the best and funniest stuff!

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  18. sharon

    oh my goodness, i laughed out loud, did NOT see that coming at the end of your story……hillarious. i have many funny stories, but yours is right up there. thanks for sharing!!

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  19. Michelle

    Oh my gosh Cory, I have tears in my eyes from laughing so hard…..i read it to steve and he said, “that’s Zane”…….what a great memory/story! I will be sure and tease him when I see him!!
    Love ya!

    Reply
  20. gloria p

    Re laundry room bicycle story: When my husband was around 10 he desperately wanted a bike for Christmas to help with his newspaper delivery route. Christmas morning there was no bike beneath the tree. His parents kept telling him that all his gifts were UNDER the tree. After much puzzling he ran to the cellar where he found his bike UNDER the tree. His family thought the story was very funny. I always thought it was very sad.

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  21. Franca Bollo

    Didn’t Zane skewer Baby Jesus on the fireplace poker and then roast him until he was a blob of goo?

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  22. Pinkie Denise

    This is a story my mom told us about her Christmas as a child… She remembers receiving her package with a bit of a mess marring the wrapping paper. She asked father what happened and he replied I guess Santa was in a hurry and one of his reindeers shitta on the package! My grandfather had hid her dolly wrappped in the cow milking barn. She remembered thing geez what was a matter with Santa he didn’t have it together.

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  23. Kiki

    we don’t have that custom in Switzerland; therefore your story left me a bit bemused – but laughing out loudly too…. never saw that coming!
    Having read the comments I see that there is a pattern in the Christmas Baby Gets into the Crib 🙂
    Plenty of funny stories in our family too, but they are private. Thank You for sharing yours!
    Have a lovely day

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  24. Marie-Noëlle

    My message is to Zane, just now :
    Hi Zane,
    So you threw Baby Jesus into the fire to get everybody’s attention and to stand in his place…
    Now I remember (!?!) a little niece of Corey’s who once asked her auntie to bring Jesus with her over from France…
    Well did that little girl (now grown up !) was aware that Jesus wa by her side all the time ?????????
    Thinking of you all !!!
    Best wishes

    Reply
  25. LA CONTESSA

    PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!xoxox

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  26. Nancy

    Corey..Zane will be out to get you when family and friends in Willows reads this and starts to tease him..lol..wonderful story..

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  27. Marie

    All my chrustmases are fun!!!
    I cannot wait for Santa to come! 🙂

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  28. iris

    my mommy was a “martha stewart” well before the the martha madness evolved…
    she had my good ole daddy…(God Bless his soul) climb to the top of an old dead tree,yes dead, and cut the top off. she spray painted it white, hung red ornaments on it and made a big red bow for the tree topper!!! i was fourteen and the oldest of three children and needless to say we were mortified that year..we named the tree “Charlie Brown tree” a most fitting name…..ironically that hideous tree is remembered every year!!!! ho ho ho and happy holidays….
    corey …. this is the ONLY blog i follow….. you are a kindred spirit….

    Reply

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