Day 24

Christmas Eve, the day before the big day. Today I am thinking of Mary. I'm thinking of Joseph. I'm thinking of Jesus.

Although the song O Silent Night is a pretty song it has always seemed so incredibly redonculous to me. If that night was anything, it was not silent. Here's my thoughts on Christmas Eve...

Joseph has to take his very pregnant wife-to-be on a really long trip. We're not talking get in the car and drive forever and half way there your butt and legs fall asleep and you get uncomfortable. I'm talking, ready to pop and forgot what your feet look like young woman riding on the bony back of a jerky donkey for miles and miles. Now it is not for sure but I have heard it said that Mary was probably around the age of 14. We know she was young. Add the fact that she was a teenager to the mix above. Now sit and ponder these things...

They arrive in Bethlehem and the town is packed because of the census so there isn't anywhere for them to stay. They are told they can stay in someones stable (or more like a cave in the side of a hill). Mary slides off the donkey and is so exhausted that the hay on the ground beckoned her to rest. There in that cave, all alone, Mary goes into labor. So it's Joseph (a young man who is a carpenter who has never been with Mary physically), Mary (a young woman about to give birth to a child conceived to her supernaturally, with the assistance of a man who she has never been with, without the help of her mom, aunts, sisters...), and probably a few stinky animals.

Silent. I think not!

Born after what could have been hours of labor there in that cave, the Son of God, the Son of Man - the Christ, Immanuel - Jesus the savior of the world.

When a child is born there is an anxious moment waiting for the child to cry. Crying is good, no crying is great!!! The last thing Mary would have ever wanted was silence. The cry of the newborn Jesus was the cry of LIFE.

Mary uses whatever cloth and rags she has to wipe off her precious baby. She wraps him up nice and tight and holds him close to her. As tears (of joy, relief, and fear) stream down her tired face her eyes behold the fulfillment of God's promise. Mary holds tight to that promise as she lays on the ground on top of the hay next to her husband-to-be.

What a joyous Not Silent Night.

I am thankful for the obedience of Mary. I am thankful for her faith. I am thankful for the obedience of Joseph. I am thankful for his faith. I am thankful for the love of God - to send Jesus in flesh to the earth to be the perfect sacrifice. I am thankful that "the word became flesh and dwelt among us".

I am thankful for Immanuel, God with us!

Blessings to you,
Nicole