I’ve had the joy this week of watching a school nativity play performed by the very youngest classes. It included those memorable moments no nativity play would be complete without, such as two boys being moved apart because they were colluding in silliness while singing about being angelic!

There were no appearances from extraneous animals that we can be certain were not present at the birth of Jesus. In fact, not even any of the animals that we might assume were present made an appearance in this telling of the story. But we did have shepherds and wise men. The shepherds’ very casual glances at the baby Jesus as they dutifully visited, along with the unceremonious depositing of the wise mens’ gifts were great moments. And we had angels and the holy family. Perfect.

And snowflakes…. The snowflakes sang and twisted and turned, fortunately not to the point of dizzily falling off the stage! Bethlehem is situated in the Judean mountains, and it does snow from time to time, so why not?

Whilst these days we might be hearing about a snowflake generation that lack resilience, it was clear that these children do not meet that descriptor. The headteacher praised the children for their courage in going on stage to teach the gathered adults the Christmas story. It was courageous, and professionally executed. Each child cast their own individual stamp on the performance.

Resisting the current trend of seeing snowflakes as ‘flaky’, let’s remember that snowflakes although following the same basic template of six-fold symmetry are beautiful and unique, formed by their own individual journey through the air. Each and everyone of us is also exceptional and matchless.

The Christmas story is a message of love from our creator God who says that each of us is specially loved and we are worth the journey from heaven to earth that God made to be with us.