Have you ever thought about the place where Mary gave birth compared to giving birth today? I’ve often wondered what the stable looked like: 4 walls, a roof and one big door for the animals to pass through. Or one main wall and poles which held the roof, being wide open with stalls for the animals? Or something totally different.
I’ve wondered if Joseph made a nice comfortable place for her to bring God’s Son into the world. A pallet made of hay and blankets? Or was she so far along that he didn’t have time to do anything but hold her while she gave birth? I’ve wondered how many animals were in the stable as well as which animals: donkeys, camels, sheep and lambs? Being a stable I know it smelled of animals, their feed and… A cool, drafty, smelly, dirty stable is where our Savior was brought into this world. But why would God choose such a place? Why not in a warm, comfortable, clean room? Could it be because nothing, not even His birth, would be easy for Him? So Jesus can relate to anyone and everyone. From the wealthiest; He left all the splendor of heaven therefore He knows the luxury of having absolutely everything you would ever need and then some. To the poorest; He was born in the meekest of places, having only pieces of cloth wrapped around Him and laid in a manger. He was blessed by others who fed Him as He fed the hungry, given clothing as He clothed others, given drink as He satisfied the thirsty. Born around lambs as He is the Lamb of God.
Thank You Lord for showing me these things matter, not as monetary possessions but to simply bless one another. We need not put so much emphasis on material things. We do need to put a lot more emphasis on blessing others.