Many of the houses in my neighborhood are decorated on the outside with Christmas lights or inflatable Christmas decorations or Nativity scenes.

A few doors north of our home in Dyer lives a neighbor who goes all out with decorations. This family has every inch of its front lawn full of various Christmas items. The highlight is a laser and music show that draws people from many cities and towns to come and see it. In fact, the home is so well done, many park blocks away and walk to see the sound and light show.

Last year, I remembered watching a family walking across the sidewalk in front of our home on the way to the home with the laser and music show. As they passed by our front yard, a little 2–3 year-old shouted out from her stroller with excitement, “Look mommy, I see baby Jesus,” pointing to the Nativity scene in our front yard. The mom and dad stopped and watched their child smile and look at the Nativity scene, not interested as much in the light and sound show a few houses away.

I’ve thought about that little child a lot since then. Jesus teaches us we need to change and become like children to enter the kingdom of heaven. This little child seemed to understand what is important in Christmas, Jesus. We can learn a lot from children. May God gives us the grace to see and make Jesus the priority in the hustle and bustle of this holiday season.

The noun, Rumination, means a deep considered thought about something.

-By Deacon Tom Gryzbek