AT FIRST GLANCE, this Nativity scene appears standard. You’ve got your Holy Family, the three wisemen, the shepherds and the animals all corralled inside a stable.
But, if you look closer, you notice ears of corn placed before the animals on the bed of straw. I’ve never seen that before in a Nativity. Details matter. Details impress. Details make this particular Nativity, which for decades of Christmases has stood in my community of Faribault, memorable.
Why?
To me, that corn symbolizes the basic human needs we each have for food, clothing and shelter. Most of us have those life necessities. Some don’t. I am grateful to the many loving and giving individuals, businesses, charities and organizations that this holiday season will gift others with food, clothing and, yes, even shelter. Thank you.
Then there are needs that extend beyond the physical to emotional. We can help others by simply caring, by reaching out, by listening. I have friends who are grieving, friends who are ill, friends who have lost their jobs (including a family of seven), friends who are struggling with other difficulties. It’s tough sometimes to know what to say, how to best help. But if I remain silent, then I am doing nothing. So I encourage, ask questions, show I care simply by the time I take to show I care. Could I do more? Probably.
As hard as life is sometimes, there’s always help. There’s always hope. There’s always someone reaching inside their storehouses of grain to offer ears of corn.
We are blessed. I am blessed.
© Copyright 2016 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
And we are blessed, also. A couple of weeks ago, while at a festive quilt guild gathering, news was shared that that morning one of the member’s son had been killed in a auto accident in WI that night. Father of 8 children. Going about his normal tasks. Life ended. This morning…a blog post by the hubby of a dear long-time bloggy friend who had been diagnosed last June with a rare aggressive breast cancer, yup, the cancer “won” this last Wednesday and sweet Katherine is no longer with us. There IS hope and peace to be found even in these circumstances but it’s not for the feint of heart. It is with strong resolve and God-strengthened ability to make the choice to rest on that which is unseen to gain that which will not perish.
I am so sorry for the losses of two individuals you knew. My heart hurts. But, like you say, there is hope and that carries us through.
There is always hope. Today of all days I realize that and I embrace it. I love that you saw hope in an ear of corn. Blessings to you and your family.
Yes, hope. My HOPE stone still rests on my desk and will remain there. It’s a powerful visual reminder.
Blessings to you and those you love also, dear Beth Ann.
Now,
this is what Christmas is truly about.
The baby born to save us, embrace us, give us HOPE.
Without hope, we have nothing. NOTHING.
Lovely photos.
The corn is wonderful! xxx
There’s that word again: HOPE.
We have to believe and hope, right?
Merry Christmas to you and your family up in Duluth, dear Kim! I hope you have the best of Christmases with your boys.
Yes. Yes.
Thank you.
lovely simply stated message of gratefulness and hope for all we have knowing many others are not so lucky.
Thank you.
Right now, on this day in Faribault, we are all struggling. We need hope.
I’ve always been fascinated by nativity scenes. Beautiful thank you for sharing
They are beautiful, aren’t they? My mom collected Nativity scenes, then disbursed them to all of us when she moved into assisted living.