Day Eleven: The Twelve Days of Christmas
A TRADITION
It’s early Christmas morning and I’m the first one up. I’m always the first one up.
- I make the coffee
- light the candles
- turn on the tree lights
- get a fire going
- start some Christmas music
Then I wake my daughter and we sit on the sofa to watch the fire and sip our coffee and listen to the music. Since she was a little girl we have welcomed the first blessings of Christmas.
The rest of the family will wake up a little later. But for now, it’s just the two of us. It’s how we do Christmas.
AND FOR MARY AND JOSEPH?
They had arrived in Bethlehem weary and needing a warm room with a good bed. But it didn’t happen.
Imagine the Conversation
Joseph: “We need a room please.”
Inn Keeper: “Sorry folks, but we’re all full.”
Joseph: “You don’t understand, we’ve traveled for days and my wife is expecting”
Inn Keeper: “Look, I’m sorry, but we’re booked solid and there isn’t a bed to be found.”
Joseph: “You must have something, we’ll take anything.”
Inn Keeper: “Well, it isn’t much and it isn’t clean, but you can stay in the stable.”
Joseph: Looking at his exhausted and very pregnant wife said, “We’ll take it.”
Like the journey itself, they would be back in the cold.
IT WAS TIME
Mary was in labor. Did she have a midwife? Did she have any help at all? Was Joseph tending a fire for a little warmth? Were the sheep, donkeys and camels all looking on? We don’t know.
However it went, our savior was born. I imagine Joseph cutting the cord and placing his son in his mother’s arms. But in that moment of divine new life, did all of heaven erupt in rapturous praise? Did the universe shudder in awe watching the creator come as an infant child?
It was a silent night, a holy night, as our God came near.
TO CLOSE
It’s early Christmas morning. The fire is crackling, the coffee is fresh, and the carols are softly playing. In a minute I’ll wake my daughter, but in a minute. This is my moment to remember.
I’m guessing the experience was different for Mary and Joseph. But however it was, it was God forever changing our world. It was good news of great joy for all the people:
“A savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord.”
