Merry CHRISTmas!

It was night a "Silent Night" in town as all the stories go.  Men, women, and children were rushing through the streets trying to find a place to stay the night.  Many  had been traveling some time and were really wishing for a decent bed.  Pushing and shoving,  they all headed to the few inns in that little town of Bethlehem.  It was the busiest many had ever seen their little town.  The inns filled up and they had to begin turning people away.  This is about when a largely pregnant young girl and her new husband came into the bustling town after traveling nearly one hundred miles.  The girl was tired, exhausted really and her husband anxious to get her somewhere to rest, lest he find her giving birth in the middle of the street.  He tried all the inns, but every last one of them were filled up to the brim.  Finally one inn keeper told him that they could try the stable.  "It's got straw and it'll be softer to lie on than the ground out under them stars.  Poor girl, looks exhausted.  Wish I could help you more."  Joseph thanked him and headed to the stable out back.  He'd never imagined that he'd put this girl through giving birth in a barn but it seemed as though that exact thing was about to happen. 

Joseph helped his young wife Mary to a soft corner where the hay was the thickest.  She leaned back, truly relaxing for the first time in over a week.  It wasn't exactly the quietest, most beautiful birth place she'd ever imagined but she knew God was with them and would help them as she herself was carrying His Son.  She watched the calf suckle it's mother and heard her soft lowing.  She heard the donkeys braying loudly, the goat calling it's young.  Not much more peaceful here than out on the streets, but all was well.  In Mary's soul, there was peace.  As night wore on, everything quieted down as all people and animals bedded down for the night, but Mary's time to deliver had come.  The most pain she had ever experienced was upon her and she labored long and hard.  Finally The Deliverer entered the world screaming his infant cries.  Mary looked at him fondly, holding him close.  Poor as they were, she wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in the best cradle around, the manger.  Then exhausted she slept, thanking and praising God for what He had given her. 

Out on the hills shepherds were settling down, greatly thankful they weren't in that busy town.  They could see the hustle and bustle from where they were it appeared to be quite crazy.  They called the sheep in as the night came upon them and settled down for the night.  Suddenly a bright light shown and they heard a voice telling them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Then they were amazed as the sky filled with Angels praising God for sending His Son to earth for the people.  They shepherds were amazed, not only because the promised Messiah had come but because THEY had been told about it, lowly shepherds.  They left their flocks and ran off to find the babe that they had been told about.  Finally finding them in the stable, they dropped to their knees worshiping the newborn King.

This day, Christmas day, we celebrate the coming of our Lord as He humbled Himself and came to our world as a baby born in a lowly stable.  We thank Him and praise Him for all that He has done for us and we exalt His name.  Thank you Lord Jesus for saving us! 

~Bethany~