Lynda Loveland: Reason for the season

I get it now.

I've spent the last three weeks getting ready for Christmas. From buying presents to planning logistics, it's occupied a lot of my brain space. But I got a different view of the holiday season the other night ... in a barn. 

I was asked to participate in a live nativity scene with Greg Fishel. A good friend of mine asked me to do it at their church. It was my first time being Mary!

They dressed me in a robe and head scarf, led me to a barn and handed me the baby Jesus. I sat on a bale of hay with Greg standing next to me.

As I listened to a narrator read the story of the birth of Jesus, I looked around at the wise men, the shepherds and the angels. It was such a warm and loving sight. It was simple and stripped down of the typical Christmas extravagance. It was a stark reminder to step back and remember what Christmas is really about.

Merry Christmas and load up on the love!