I’ve chosen the word ‘Nativity’ to describe the ‘N’ of ‘Advent’. ‘Nativity’ is a word that everyone knows is associated with Christmas (probably from the idea of the ‘Nativity play’ at primary school, when the Christmas story is acted out by young children), but it’s not a word they would use in any other context. ‘Nativity’ refers to the birth of a person (from the Latin word ‘nativus’), and there’s a sense in which every birth should evoke awe and wonder in us.
We talk about the miracle of birth, and if we stop and think about conception, pregnancy and birth, we will indeed be filled with awe and wonder. At the Parent and Toddler group which meets at church, we have seen a number of babies born this year and it’s fantastic to see these babies brought to the group – and also to see how the toddlers react to them. My 2-year-old granddaughter loves to gaze at the babies and stroke them; she senses there is something precious before her and talks in a quiet, soothing way to them (quite unlike her usual boisterous manner!)
As we prepare to remember and celebrate the birth of a very special baby, let’s celebrate also the births of every child we know this year and be grateful for the miracle of birth.
