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.

Who's in your Manger?

I was going to write about the gift of the Magi or maybe something to do with the twelve days of Christmas, since it is the twelfth day of Christmas today. I went on-line to do some research and came across this story. Click on this link for the entire article. It is taken from the website of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Rochelle, New York. 

In 1994, two Americans traveled to Russia to teach morals and ethics in prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. During the Christmas season, they shared the story of the first Christmas with the 100 orphans at the orphanage. Then they helped the children to recreate their own nativity scenes using scraps of fabric, cardboard and paper napkins.

One of the Americans watched as one six year old boy, Misha, finished his project and put two cloth babies in the manger. Through the translator he asked the young boy to explain why where there were two babies.

Misha accurately retold the story of Jesus birth until he got to the end of the story. This is what he had to say:

"And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.

   "I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift.

   "So I asked Jesus, "If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?" And Jesus told me, "If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me."

"So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him---for always."

The volunteer who wrote this story went on to write:

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed.

    The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him-FOR ALWAYS. I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.

What did Mary say? What would you say?

 Then Mary said,

“I praise the Lord with all my heart.

 I am very happy because God is my Savior.

I am not important,

 but he has shown his care for me, his lowly servant.

From now until the end of time,

 people will remember how much God blessed me.

Yes, the Powerful One has done great things for me.

His name is very holy.

He always gives mercy

 to those who worship him.

 He reached out his arm and showed his power.

 He scattered those who are proud and think great things about themselves.

 He brought down rulers from their thrones

 and raised up the humble people.

 He filled the hungry with good things,

 but he sent the rich away with nothing.

 God has helped Israel—the people he chose to serve him.

 He did not forget his promise to give us his mercy.

 He has done what he promised to our ancestors,

 to Abraham and his children forever.”

Luke 1:46-55

Easy-to-Read Version

After the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would be the mother of Jesus, the young woman hurried to see her cousin Elizabeth who also was pregnant. I can picture the two of them sharing their amazing stories and wondering why God had picked them. Mary finally praises God with the song above. I guess God knew what He was doing when He chose Mary. What would you have said to this news?

“Really, God? The masses might stone me for getting pregnant without being married. And you know I really can’t afford this right now. Joseph, my fiancé, just isn’t making that much money building furniture. Can you wait until the economy is better? And you know with Elizabeth getting pregnant in her old age, do you really think I should have a baby so close in age to hers? I really don’t want to take the attention away from her. And you know, God, I am awful young. A baby is just going to ruin my figure forever.”

Yup, we all have excuses, don’t we? Good thing Mary didn’t.