Christmas in a stable

How I know and love the story of how God chose to send His son to us! I must have heard it and/or read it a million times in my life! I've seen countless plays, heard many a pastor share the story, and have just grown up with the story! But I'm seeing it this year with different eyes. There is a new applicable spin to the story for me this year...

Can you imagine poor Mary? Most of us just think of the honor and glory to have been chosen as the very one to carry the King of Kings in her womb! But go back to that night when the angel appeared to her! She was just a young girl, doing her best to do what was right. She had been betrothed to Joseph, and had developed a great friendship with him. I feel certain that the friendship had already begun to show signs of true love! And out of nowhere, on a seemingly normal night, an angel appeared to her in all of its glory, and told her what?! Among many thoughts, I'd imagine these were a few of them: What kind of an idea is that? Who could have thought of such a thing? I will most certainly lose Joseph over this-I mean how could he ever understand? This is just crazy! Not ME!!!??? WHY ME???!!! But the answer was "yes you and let me handle the rest!" (Well, not exactly but you get the point)

Can you imagine poor Joseph? Oh man, what a lot this man had to carry initially. He was a Godly man, known by many in the small town where they lived. Everyone knew of his upcoming marriage to Mary. They had chosen to remain pure until the wedding day. And then out of the blue, Mary comes to him and tells him what?! Among many thoughts he must have had initially, I'd imagine these were a few of them: An angel came to YOU?! Angels come to those in great power, not to young girls! If you are carrying a child, it is most certainly NOT mine, so who has done this to you? I can't believe you've done this to me, to us! I trusted you! And if this were true what you tell me, what would everyone think? No one would believe it?! This is just crazy! Not ME!!!??? WHY ME!!!??? The answer comes to Joseph in the form of an angel, as well. He had to apologize to Mary. I bet he felt awful for doubting her, for lacking trust in his beloved. I bet she wanted to be mean and tell him that she told him so! I would have! But she reacted with grace. They decided they were in this thing together.

I wonder if Joseph and Mary had envisioned what kind of a birth experience would be fit for such a Savior! I bet they imagined something magnificent, royal, fit for a king! As the pregnancy advances, and nears the end of its term, they were told that a census was being conducted and they were forced to leave Nazareth. I have to think that it must have come as somewhat of a relief. I can only imagine the doubters, the gossip circles, etc. Not everyone believed this crazy, unlikely story. It was this couple's way of trying to excuse their obvious lack of self control in entering into a sexual relationship prior to marriage. So, at full term, poor Mary had to get on a donkey and ride for 4 days to Bethlehem. When they arrived, it was night time, and they found an inn. There were no rooms available. By this time, Mary was having pretty severe labor pains, no doubt. Among many thoughts she must've had over those 4 days, she certainly must have thought these: You have got to be kidding me Lord! I am carrying Your son, and have done everything you've asked of me, and now this? I don't know what You are thinking, but it better be good! I need a break here Lord!

They found a man who said they could use his stable! By this time, they must have been tired and ready to give up. I'm sure they were like, "Fine, a stable it is for the birth of the King of Kings?! This story gets crazier and crazier! Lord what are you thinking?! But in that stable indeed, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords came into this world to save us all!

This was most certainly not what Mary and Joseph had planned for the beginning of their life together! They could never have seen this coming in a million years. I bet as they grew older, and looked back on that time, they had a few laughs over the whole situation. But it was anything but funny while they were going through it! This is where I enter the story. As this Christmas season approaches, I look back over the past year of my life. Wow, this is most certainly not what I had planned! This is most certainly not what I had wanted. This is most certainly not what I felt I needed! This is just crazy! Lord, what are you thinking?! NOT ME!!!??? WHY ME!!!??? Why us? And His answer is just, "Yes you and let Me handle the rest!" We took off on this long 4 day journey, and when I so desperately needed a break, there was no room in the inn. I find myself in a stable!!! Really Lord, is this where you have brought me? I know you could have taken me out of this situation. But you haven't! You have brought me here for a reason. I doubt I'll have the glorious appearing of an angel to let me know the scoop! And even though it stinks here in this stable, I rest in complete peace that this is, in fact, the exact place I'm supposed to be! So in this stable I await and trust and yes, fret a bit at times as well if I am completely honest. I look forward to the day when I can look back on my stable experience and rejoice at the vision of how Christ turned the ashes of my life into beauty-great things are born out of stables! After all, his answer is just, "Yes you and let me handle the rest!"

What a wonderful story!!!