Southern Nebraska Register
Children of St. James School in Crete received hand-carved toys from anonymous artisans just before Christmas.
The boxes of toys arrived on the night of the school Christmas program and were filled with cars, farm animals, jungle animals, dinosaurs, tops, and many clever wooden games.
“What a marvel to think that each toy was made by hand,” said principal Sister Mary Alma, C.K.
The school prepared the children for the gifts with a story called “The Toy Maker.” The sixth-graders acted out the tale for the rest of the school. The book, Sister Mary Alma said, “teaches, through analogy, that God our Father works daily to make good and beautiful gifts specifically designed for each of us.
“His gifts are often refused,” she continued, “but occasionally someone says, ‘Thank you!’ and becomes happy.”
After hearing the story, the teachers presented the gifts to the students.
“We ended the time with Christmas carols, placing the baby Jesus in the manger, and saying, ‘Thank you’ to God our Father for all His gifts, and most especially the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, Savior, and King,” Sister Mary Alma said.
