Many years ago, in the rush and chaos of the Christmas season, I lost Jesus.

Now, before you jump to conclusions, let me explain. I didn’t lose Him spiritually—I lost a tiny baby Jesus figurine from a small crèche I displayed in my guest bathroom.

It was a great mystery. The figurine was glued down with the rest of the scene, so how could it go missing? One day He was there, and the next, He was gone. I searched high and low, but He was nowhere to be found. With three rambunctious sons, two energetic dogs, and a revolving door of holiday guests, there’s no telling what could have happened to the tiny figure.

I’m not really sure why I kept that “imperfect” manger year after year. I no longer displayed it since it was missing its main character, but I kept it tucked away in a box of other decorations that I faithfully displayed each Christmas. Each year, when I unpacked everything, I would come across that little manger and feel a pang of regret, wishing I could have found baby Jesus.

Then, today, something extraordinary happened—a Christmas miracle of sorts.

In the rush of holiday preparations—baking, wrapping, cooking, cleaning—I heard yelling from the hallway bathroom. My husband announced there was a “plumbing emergency,” and I raced to the scene to find water gushing onto the floor. Chaos ensued, and in my frustration, I threw towels onto the flooded floor and muttered some very “un-Christmasy” words.

As we finished cleaning up, I was on my hands and knees, wiping water that had seeped beneath the vanity, when I felt something like a small pebble under my rag. Curious, I swiped again, and a tiny object tumbled across the hardwood floor, emerging from under the cabinet. When I looked closer, I froze in disbelief, staring at the little figurine I thought was lost forever—it was baby Jesus!

In that moment, I felt a wave of elation—a mix of joy and relief. But it wasn’t just about finding the missing piece of my nativity. It was as though everything around me paused, and I truly saw Him—the One whose birth changed the world.

As I knelt there, holding that tiny figurine, I marveled at the timing. This could have happened any other time of the year, and I would have been thrilled. But the fact that it happened at Christmas felt divinely ironic. It was as if God was reminding me in a special way of the profound truth of this season: Jesus is here, He has come, and He is Immanuel, God with us.

I also realized – this was no coincidence. With God, nothing ever is. He orchestrates even the smallest moments to draw our hearts back to Him. Finding that figurine during the very season when we celebrate His coming was a powerful reminder that He is always present, even in life’s seemingly mundane events.

What struck me most was how He showed up in such an unexpected moment, right in the middle of our plumbing emergency—our mess. It reminded me of how the real baby Jesus showed up in the most humble and unexpected way. He didn’t come in royal grandeur or king-like splendor but in a smelly manger surrounded by barn animals and straw. Just as my figurine appeared in the middle of my messy situation, the true Savior entered our messy world to bring hope, peace, and redemption.

I also thought about how the world had long awaited and searched for our Savior. Centuries passed in longing and anticipation, and every prophet’s promise was like a glimpse of a manger missing its main character. But then, on that holy night, He came. The wait was over, and the world finally saw its King.

I thought of the shepherds in the fields, startled by an angel’s unexpected announcement of a Savior born for all people. They rushed to find Him, and when they did, they were overwhelmed with joy. They left that manger filled with awe and ran to tell everyone they met.

I thought, too, of the wise men, who traveled far and endured much, following a star to find the newborn King. Imagine their joy when they finally found Him, falling to their knees in worship and offering Him their treasures.

That same joy—real, eternal, transformative—is available to us today when we find Him, not as a figurine in a manger scene, but as the living Savior in our hearts and lives.

This Christmas, let’s pause to seek Him. Amid the wrapping paper, the recipes, and the rushed schedules, let’s remember that He is still here, waiting to be found by all who look for Him. And when we do, may we find the same joy, peace, hope, and love that the shepherds and wise men experienced long ago.

A Prayer for Today:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus to be Immanuel, God with Us. In the midst of our busyness, help us to pause and seek You. Fill our hearts with joy, peace, hope, and love that only You can give. Please help us to celebrate this Christmas with our eyes fixed on the Savior, the true reason for the season. In Jesus' Name We Pray, Amen.  

p.s. Thank you that my little nativity is once again complete. The missing piece was my missing Peace. 

Related Verses:

Matthew 1:23: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means God with us).

Luke 2:6-7: “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:10-11: “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”

Luke 2:12: “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Matthew 2:10-11: “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”