Gracie's Nativity

This was a post from two years ago.

I am sharing it again today on Stephanie's Roses of Inspiration.

I think it has been probably over twenty-five years since she first gave it to us as a family Christmas present. My husband's two sister's families received one as well. The gifts I am referring to were the hand-painted ceramic nativities that Gracie made for all of us that year. Gracie was my husband's sweet mother. Ever since she presented to us, it became a Christmas tradition that it was always the first decoration that went in it's place. When my boys were just little guys, they always helped unwrap and place the individual figurines carefully in the wooden manger. Once the nativity was all set up, it was on to decking the halls and trimming the tree.

I was totally in awe of the beautiful work and the many hours that Gracie put into making these nativities for her three children. The fine detail of the faces was far better than anything I could have done...and I prided myself as a pretty good artsy-crafty kinda girl! The set included all the regulars—right down to a couple of shepherds and their sheep...

...the shepherd boy...and a cow....

...the ever important donkey...



...the Three Wise Men...

 (although we know they weren't actually there when Baby Jesus was a tiny infant)



...and their three camels...



...oh, and the angel hovering above...we can't forget the angel!

I raved and raved to Gracie about what a wonderful job she did  on this. It never failed, she would pretty much blow off my compliment by saying something like "Oh, Debby, you could have done much better" or "Don't look too closely at it!" As hard as I tried to compliment her on her beautiful handy-work, she just couldn't accept my praise. Year after year whenever I would get it out and comment on it to her, it started to become more about her rejecting my compliment rather than me giving her one...so one day, I stopped.

Is it hard for you to accept a compliment? I have to admit that sometimes it is for me too. At times, I am guilty of saying things like Gracie did. I don't ever want to seem conceited and often I really don't know how to react to a certain compliment given to me. Sometimes, I think we get it confused with flattery. But how are we making the person giving the compliment feel when we don't accept it graciously? Not only are we rejecting their kindness, but we could also be making them feel just as uncomfortable by not receiving it with grace. I am learning that I am actually robbing the person giving the praise of a blessing. Accepting a compliment is not a sin...it is a form of encouragement.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Gracie has been with Jesus since 2001. She suffered from Alzheimer's the last few years of  her life and when it finally robbed her completely of her spirited, witty personality along with the twinkle that was always in her eye, a fall resulting in a broken hip was all it took to take her out of this world and into the next. In a couple of short months she was gone.

I'm starting my Christmas decorating today and have been thinking a lot about Gracie as I was putting out the nativity. It's all carefully arranged, although I'm pretty sure that every year it's probably just a little different from the year before. One thing that remains constant, of course, is Jesus...He never changes. He wants us to praise Him and give Him compliments of all kinds.

After all, that's why He created us, isn't it? 

Have a lovely week ahead... giving and receiving those compliments!

Sharing at:

http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/2013/11/onward.html
http://www.deidrariggs.com/2013/11/30/sunday-75/
http://www.sunnysimplelife.com/2013/11/revised-from-farm-blog-hop.html
http://sundayview.blogspot.com/2013/12/inspired-sunday-30-days-of-christmas.html
http://www.create-with-joy.com/2013/12/inspire-me-monday-celebrating-100-weeks.html
http://www.thebeautyinhisgrip.com/2013/12/sharing-his-beauty-advent.html
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/12/193rd-inspire-me-tuesday.html
http://whatjoyismine.net/mondays-musings-89/#sthash.KIwkSl7E.dpbs
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/12/make-it-pretty-monday-week-78.html
http://www.flusterbuster.com/2013/12/flusters-creative-muster-linky-party-49.html
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/2013/12/cut-mustard.html
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/12/wow-us-wednesdays-147.html

               http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2013/12/wednesdays-adorned-from-above-link.html

http://jannolson.blogspot.com/2013/12/share-your-cup-thursday-84.html
http://www.deeprootsathome.com/encourage-one-another-wednesday-link-up-114/
http://www.impartinggrace.com/2013/12/grace-at-home-no-84.html