Published: December 23, 2008 08:15 pm      

Family finds lesson in theft of Baby Jesus from nativity scene

As a result of having a sentimental Christmas decoration stolen, the Mucci family is trying to teach their children a lesson.

That lesson: Christmas isn’t about material items.

Last week, Steve and Susan Mucci received a phone call from a neighbor asking if their baby Jesus decoration that adorned their front yard had been stolen.

When they looked out into their front yard on Enchanted Drive, one of the pieces of the manager scene they had been using for almost 10 years was indeed gone.

“We were really surprised, shocked and just irritated someone would do something like that,” said Susan Mucci.

Mucci said their three daughters who are 6, 8 and 13 were thinking about putting a sign in their front that read, “We want baby Jesus back.”

Instead of putting the sign up, the Muccis are trying to use the incident as a lesson for the girls.

“We were angry at first, but I’m trying to teach them that they may have taken Jesus out of the manger scene, but you can’t take Jesus out of our hearts,” said Mucci.

“We’re trying to teach them a doll is a doll, but Christ is still the true meaning of Christmas,” added Mucci.

However, they will try to make the manger scene that consists of Mary, Joseph and a lamb complete before Christmas arrives.

Mucci said that on Christmas Eve — today — they are going to take a doll, wrap it up and put it in a cradle in the place of the baby Jesus that originally went with the set of decorations.

“I just hope that they realize they may be taking these things from people, but they aren’t really hurting us, because they aren’t really taking Christmas out of us,” said Mucci.

Mucci encouraged people that if such a thing happens to them, just to remember that the true meaning of Christmas is keeping the spirit going with Christ in it and keeping a positive outlook.

“Christmas is not about materialistic things, but it’s about family and loved ones,” said Mucci, “We may have things stolen from us, but (people) can’t steal love.”