the precious stone.

If snow could fall in any flavor, what flavor would you choose?

I think I would choose peppermint.

            Each day during Advent, Benjamin Bear opens a door on his Advent calendar to discover a new picture, and each day, his mother tells him a little bit more of a story about a little bear who is journeying to Bethlehem.

            Benjamin opened the next door and uncovered a precious stone.

            Early in the morning the little lamb and the little bear met a man who sat staring at a bright red stone.

            “What are you doing?” asked the little bear.

            “I’m thinking,” said the man. “For many years I’ve been thinking.”

            “What about?” asked the little bear.

            “I would like to ask you a question, little bear,” said the man. “I will give you this precious stone if you can tell me where God lives.”

            The little bear said nothing for a while. Then he said quietly, “I will give you this precious rosebush if you can tell me where God does not live.”

            The man looked at the little bear for a long time. “Little bear,” he finally said, “you are very wise. Where are you headed?”

            “To Bethlehem, where a new King is to be born,” answered the bear.

            “I wish I could go, too,” said the man, “but one of my legs is far too weak.” With effort he stood up and limped a few steps.

            “Here!” said the little bear. “This cane is for you! Just follow the star. You’ll make it, I’m sure.”

            Benjamin sighed happily. Mother Bear patted him gently. “The little bear was very wise,” she said. “God does live everywhere.”

            -Advent Storybook: 24 Stories to Share Before Christmas by Antonie Schneider

Here's another one of our Advent calendars - this one is based on the world of Narnia! You can also see another Nativity set that we found in Salzburg this summer.