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From: emery@fluke.UUCP (John Emery)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian
Subject: The Story of My Manger Set
Message-ID: <1557@vax3.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 16-Dec-85 21:07:41 EST
Article-I.D.: vax3.1557
Posted: Mon Dec 16 21:07:41 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 19-Dec-85 00:07:59 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 61





I just thought I would share a cute little story that happened to me last
Christmas.  I had decided to buy a manger set.  After looking around for
a while, I finally bought one. However, After I got it home and put it
together I was dissappointed.  It was poor quality and the figurines were
small and made of cheap plastic.  Whats worse was that the set was fairly
expensive.

A couple days later, I ran into a set of ceramic figurines (9 pieces).
The pieces were about 5 times the size of the ones I had and the price
of this set was about half of what I paid for the other.  I couldn't
believe it!  So I returned the other manger set and purchased this one.

The problem with this set was that it did not have a manger or hay.  I
had my heart set on the whole works however.  I figured surely I could
buy a manger separately.  After looking and looking, I came up empty handed.
Then I thought perhaps I could build my own.  Besides, it would be cheaper.
I figured perhaps the Lord wanted me to make the manger myself.  That sounded
like fun!  Gee, Noah built the ark, Solomon built the temple, and I could
build the manger!

The next problem was to figure out what kind of wood to buy.  It had to be
thin and easy to work with.  No problem.  Well I went to a few stores and
surprisingly there was nothing I could use.  Well I started becoming 
frustrated and a bit angry.  Then I thought, "Lord, I want to make this
manger set for you.  What shall I do?"  Soon I got a thought to go look
in back of our townhouse complex.  I had never been out there before because
all that was out there were some trees, bushes, and wild grass.  For some
reason I was excited about going out there.  My wife thought I was a little
crazy.

Well I went tramping through the wild weeds.  After looking for about 5
minutes, I ended up at the edge of a parking lot and lo and behold, there
sat a pile of 3 or 4 pieces of pressed particle board.  Exactly what I was
looking for.  After figuring out the dimensions I needed, it turned out that
the amount of wood I had was nearly exactly the right amount!  Well I built
it and it turned out great.  A coating of vegetable oil gave it a nice nat-
ural look.

Next I wanted some hay to put in it.  I said, "Lord, you did it once, I trust
you can do it again."  Well I didn't get any urges to go back to where I found
the wood, but I went and looked anyway.  I didn't find any.  I thought, "Oh
well" and settled for some tree figs.  Then a couple of days later I was
walking from the parking lot to the building to work.  We have a small lake
with swans, ducks, and geese on the way.  Well to my amazement, someone had 
placed a bunch of hay along side the walk way for the ducks (I assumed).  
I took just enough for my manger and left plenty for the ducks (they didn't 
get too mad).

I ended up with a lovely, inexpensive manger set and a warm feeling in my
heart that God helps even with the smallest things.  I guess he was trying
to tell me that Christmas was meant to be simple.  I hope everyone's 
Christmas is simple and bright.

In His Name,

John Emery
fluke!emery