These sweet, albeit unrealistic words from the traditional Christmas carol, "Away in a Manger," demonstrate an aspect of the narratives around the Christmas story that is worth exploring. The idea of Baby Jesus lying in the manger without crying isn't realistic. Babies cry. Perhaps the bigger question, is why do we see a need to "put him back in the manger" each Christmas? Typically when birthdays are celebrated, we don't keep focusing on what happened on the first day of life. Imagine this conversation:

Happy birthday! I remember when you were born. Your mother was in labor for five hours. She pushed and pushed, but you wouldn't come out! The doctor finally decided to perform a C- section and I wasn't allowed to go into the operating room. I waited with the rest of the family in the waiting room, and we were so happy when the doctor came and told us that our baby girl had arrived safely, and she was breathing on her own. Her fingers and toes were all intact.... Her heartbeat was regular, lungs clear and everything was just fine!

If this (or any other) birth story was repeated every single year, wouldn't you get tired of hearing it?

I am by no means suggesting that we stop singing traditional Christmas carols, but I do think we can perhaps shift our focus to the message of Jesus, as opposed to fixating on the circumstances of his birth. What often gets lost in the telling of the Christmas message is the subversive nature of the Christmas story. Jesus identified with the poor and marginalized, as opposed to establishing an empire or giving his followers political power.

A closer look at some popular Christmas carols shows that the lyricists understood this.

The Christmas carol, "O Holy Night," was translated from French by an American Unitarian minister, John Sullivan Dwight. An abolitionist, he modified the lyrics to include a reference to breaking the chains of slavery:

Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,

And in his name all oppression shall cease,

The preceding words in this verse emphasize what Jesus taught:

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;

It is sobering to think of all the oppression that has occurred and, in some cases, is still happening, in the name of Christianity. This is the antithesis of what Christ taught.

The song, "Mary Did You Know," is beautiful, but portrays an image of a rather clueless young lady. Similarly, most nativity scenes portray Mary in a way that makes her seem docile and insecure. In the Magnificat, (Mary's Song), we get a picture of a much more knowledgeable Mary, who made declarations that were later considered so radical that they were banned by governments.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

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He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

Mary declared that God would bring rulers down while lifting up the humble. No wonder her words were considered radical - they were!

So, while Mary may not have known ahead of time about the events mentioned in "Mary, Did You Know?" it certainly seems like she knew a lot more than she is given credit for.

Charles Dickens'1843 classic, A Christmas Carol, is a powerful critique of inequality in Victorian England. In this book, Dickens drew attention to the plight of the poor and challenged the wealthy to recognize their responsibilities to the larger society. It was a radical wake-up call, and as a result, philanthropy became mainstream. An American businessman is said to have been so moved by the story in this book that he closed his factory on Christmas Day and sent his each of his workers a turkey. The editor of the Edinburgh Review, Lord Jeffrey, wrote to Dickens:

"You have done more good by this little publication, fostered more kindly feelings and prompted more positive acts of beneficence, than can be traced to all the pulpits and confessionals in Christendom."

In advocating for the poor through storytelling, Dickens made a lasting impact on his society that benefited the poor and marginalized. Isn't that what Christmas is all about?

When we sing about the first Christmas and the baby in a manger, let's remember that the baby didn't stay in a manger. He grew up, shattered societal norms, advocated for the poor and vulnerable and set an example for us to follow.

What are you doing this Christmas to make an impact?

To learn more about the stories behind Christmas carols, you can check out my book, "I Played My Best for Him! The Inspiring Stories Behind the Little Drummer Boy and Other Christmas Favorites."

You can listen to my rendition of the songs on Spotify, or your favorite listening platform.

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Best wishes for a prosperous New Year!