From a Manger

36” x 24” acrylic original

on 1.5” gallery wrapped canvas / [Frame not included]

Every couple years we take the opportunity to visit a Bethlehem Walk as they call it at Christmas in the South. Various churches set up manger scenes and enact the time around the birth of Christ. They bring in sheep, cattle, goats and an occasional lama. The scene depicts the lowly way in which Christ was born.

In this particular Bethlehem walk, you entered a town square. The people had come from all over for a census. We were ushered in to the experience and soon after to a long hallway where people were talking about the prophecy of a promised messiah. Entering a dark room we sat down on bales of hay. The story of the Christ child was told by a narrator dressed in timely attire as we observed the scene of Mary, Joseph and the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes in the surroundings of a manger where He was born. It was a sweet time of reflection and remembrance. Carols were sung with guests joining in on the moment. In the last room were farm animals and people enjoying them. This little cow captured my attention that afternoon and then a canvas to become “From a Manger”.

Luke 2