Counting Sheep at the Funeral Home (excerpt)

My older children, James and Mena, were two and five respectively when we created my favorite Christmas memory. A local funeral home sponsors a nativity display each year featuring live sheep. I invited Mena's best friend Cerissa along for the adventure. I thought it’d be a unique experience for the children.

How right I was.

Life-sized statues of Mary and Joseph stood, attached to the roof of the creche’ by wires. Between them was an infant-sized Baby Jesus. Mulling inside the wooden corral were eight or nine live sheep. About two dozen families crowded around the fence to admire the display. Cerissa marveled at the sheep and commented on how sweet Mary's expression was. Mena noted how human-like the sheep's eyes were. Several other folks sharing the experience murmured in agreement. It was a truly lovely, peaceful Hallmark moment.

Poor James was so small that he couldn't see Jesus because of the crowd. I lifted him and set him down inside the corral. In a few seconds, a sheep backed up and knocked into James. Defending his territory or just being a two year old, James slapped its behind. Bleating in fear, the animal lurched away and dashed for the sanctuary of the creche’. The other sheep sensed danger and followed the first one’s lead. One by one they leapt over baby Jesus and disappeared into the stable. The Mary and Joseph statues spun wildly on their wires as each sheep's generous hindquarters bumped them. I hadn't realized how many people were there until I heard raucous laughter. A few witnesses even applauded.

We now view the live nativity scene each year from the safety of the car, even though they’re both nearly grown. You just can’t count on sheep.