Nativity Scenes

I grew up in Texas. I loved the outdoors and the sun kept me tanned all year. I attended a Christian school during my elementary school years. As soon as possible after Thanksgiving, we would begin practicing for our yearly Christmas program, which always featured a live nativity scene.

Every year I hoped that I would be chosen to play the role of Mary, but each year the role went to one of the girls with a light complexion, blue eyes, and long blonde hair. With my tanned skin, dark hair, and dark eyes, I never fit the image the teachers had of Mary, even though my features and those of my His...