The church Christmas pageant was like nothing I’ve seen.  I’ve seen scores of these plays and even participated in a few (playing Joseph, a shepherd and a sheep if I remember correctly).  There was the obligatory baby Jesus (special bonus this year: an actual newborn), the big star from the East and wisemen carrying shoeboxes of gold tissue paper. There was even a drum line that marched down the aisles to ‘make a joyful noise’ to the tune of Little Drummer Boy.  The kids were frightened but quickly turned their energies to excitement.  We thought the trap set drummer was getting carried away as the carol moved toward the close then we realized a full suite of snares, quads and bass drums marched in from the back, complete with their matching counter-culture outfits.  It was the highlight of the presentation.  That is, until the kids’ choir took to the stage.

The Scriptures talk about having a ‘child-like faith’ (Matthew 18:2-4).  It’s an interesting thought experiment until you see children singing the songs of the ages with the gusto of a thousand angels.  Then it’s real.  There’s no thinking: just faith.

The kids stood in their Christmas best: pants with no holes in the knees and the dress Grandma bought on sale last year. The girls had their hair done up with a big bow to match the one from Grandma's dress (except that it doesn’t match exactly because the one that was attached fell off at the store, which is why it was on sale to begin with, but nobody noticed but Mama.  And me.). The boys’ hair showed the signs of Mama’s victory and struggle with the boy and the hair he inherited from Dad’s side: the front half pinned down with hairspray and the back half standing tall, too short to lay down and too long to hide because the other 29 days of the month is spent on the fight convincing him to wear pants, but I digress. The kids led their parents through songs between waves at Grandma and giggles at Grandpa.  They sang traditional carols such as Away in a Manger (enter pretend sheep and shepherds: stage left) and newer themes such as ‘Mary Did You Know’ (enter actual newborn: Stage Right).  It was fantastic.

Then they sang one that wasn’t in my Christmas canon.  I was annoyed that they would vary from the script, but hey, the kids were leading worship and things rarely go according to script.  As they sang I noticed one little girl on the top right of the aluminum risers.  She was fully immersed, clearly having practiced the performance dozens of times.  She knew when to sing her words loudly and when stay silent.

Her full immersion in the song was evident.  All of the other kids stood and rocked and clapped as they had been trained but this one gave herself to the song, bouncing and waving and clapping and singing her heart out.  But this is how she lives her life: off-script and full-tilt.  The little girl showing me the model of worship that day has Down Syndrome.  Her struggle with social mores may create drama for her Mama in the grocery store, but on this day it took her closer to the cross.  Her lack of understanding of what was ‘acceptable’ gave a glimpse of what heaven may be like and what a ‘child-like faith’ really looks like.

As I watched intently, I began to process the song she was singing.  Then I wept.  The child with Down Syndrome bounced with vim and vigor to ‘I am not forgotten’.

I’ve played the song since and can’t help but see that little girl in my mind.  This little girl reminded me that her Savior does not forget her nor does he forget me.  This is the message of Christmas today and of the original.

I am not forgotten.  She is not forgotten.  You are not forgotten.

Very Merry Christmas.