Those First Few Days

 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

(Luke 2:21 New International Version)

Today is December 27. Just a few days ago, we celebrated the birth of Jesus. We picture Him with His parents in a cramped, dirty barn, where cattle and sheep slept. We wait for the visit from the shepherds, and most people imagine those three wise men from the East showing up, even though they never made it to that stable. They visited Jesus many months, even up to two years later.

Then when the Baby was eight days old, He was taken to the temple to be circumcised (Yikes.) But what about that week in between? Did Mary and Joseph stay in Bethlehem for a few days while Mary recovered from delivery? Were they stuck in that stable? Or did someone take them into their home? Or did they take off for their own home on Christmas morning?

I like to imagine that after those shepherds went back to their fields that Mary got a few hours of sleep while Joseph kept watch over her and the Baby. Maybe in the morning, whoever owned that stable went to get their animals and was surprised to find the new family resting in the hay. Or more likely, the owner had already showed up in the night, aroused by the racket from the shepherds. If that were the case, perhaps he ran home and got his wife or other women from his household, who took over the care of Mary and Baby Jesus.

I don’t know. I don’t think anyone else knows either. So what do you think? What do you picture took place in those first few days after the first Christmas?

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending us Your Son that first Christmas. Thank you for allowing us to get to know Your Son and to accept Him into our lives and be our Savior. Amen.