The Best Christmas Pageant Ever… [a holiday movie review]

I had no idea what to expect when I walked into an early screening of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever🌟 last Saturday. Since I hadn’t read the book or seen the stage production, I guess I expected something of a Junie B. Jones, elementary reader nature. But instead, I encountered a wondrous story of God’s love.

A Little Black Heart, A Nickname, and a Piece of My Childhood

As I watched the film, I was reminded of Angel Rachel [a nickname bestowed on me in the church where I first heard the story of God’s love]. And the pureness of heart in giving that little black heart to Jesus at the tender age of 5-ish. Overcome with immense gratitude, I thanked the Lord for the recent opportunity to pray, all these years later, for my friend, Jeni Jo. A friend whom I made as we listened together to the wondrous tale.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though the be red like crimson, they shall be wool.” – Isaiah 1:18

I was further reminded of my own Angel Mother directing me as The Little Christmas Angel in a church production of the same name. And how my youngest brother rescued an important, breath-taking piece of my childhood from the attic as we prepared our childhood home for sale after her passing. Again, tremendous gratitude ensued.

A Wondrous Story

But ugly crying best describes my reaction as the film’s divine message revealed itself. The message of how accepting God’s challenge to love “the unlovable” in a not-so-lovable world and how that message changes the meaning of Christmas for all of us.

And I’m wrecked by the story of God’s extraordinary grace and unfathomable love, all over again. Because in light of the cross, all of us are part Herdmans. I love this exchange from the film’s trailer,

“What if the Herdmans ruin it for you?” asks Beth.

“We’ll be missing the whole point if we turn them away now” replied Grace. “Jesus was born for the Herdmans as much as He was for you and me.”

This is real, perfecting LOVE, y’all!

“Not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” – 1 John 4:10b

As 2024 winds down with all of its monumental challenges to love in a fallen, imperfect world, my hope and prayer is that all of us can SHINE LOVE in a world desperate for a loving Savior. I hope you’ll see this beautiful, heart-stirring film this holiday season. I know you’ll be blessed—beyond measure!

“I will never stop telling the [wondrous] story of His love.” – Psalm 89:2

“Not only to be so full of God’s love [I no longer fathom speaking unkind words or commit unkind deeds], but to shine so bright for all the world to see.” This is my life-long quest, join me? 💕