Mary, sheep vie for baby Jesus during children's nativity

WHITE PINE, Tenn. (FOX 13) - Teegan Benson’s mom, Tana says her baby girl keeps her on her toes.

It’s evident what she means in a video she posted of the 2-year-old participating in a nativity pageant at their church.

In the video, Teegan is on stage with pint-sized Mary, Joseph, an angel, and a few others singing “Away in a Manger.”

But during the song, it’s clear Teegan, playing the role of “sheep,” has plans to become the star of the show.

During the song, Teegan took the baby doll that was playing the baby Jesus into her arms and began rocking it.

She then smiled and held the little baby doll out as she danced at the front of the stage.

It all made perfect sense to Tana, who said Teegan loves baby dolls.

But Mary was not as sympathetic to Teegan’s love for the baby Jesus. Taking on a motherly instinct, little Mary came over to Teegan and took the baby Jesus back.

The two wrestled over the doll as Mary placed it back in the manger, but Teegan was persistent.

She once again took the baby Jesus and hugged it close to her chest.

Mary was not pleased. She wrapped her arms around Teegan’s back to reach for the doll. That’s when an adult stepped in to separate the girls – both with their own feelings about the baby’s place in the world.

Tana Benson said while the moment didn’t go as planned, it brought endless joy to everyone at First Baptist Church of White Pine.

In a Facebook post, Tana said she “laughed so hard [she] cried.”

“Definitely a program I will remember. LOVE these kiddos and my church family!” Tana wrote.

The program was December 10 and since Tana posted video of the nativity, it’s been shared more than 100,000 times.

“I never imagined this video would be shared as it has,” Tana told FOX 13 News.  “God has blessed us with her and she keeps me on my toes.”

Tana added there may be a new baby doll for Teegan in the near future.