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Written by Vickie Stone from the Village Church. The writing was inspired by the book “Intimate Moments with the Savior,” which was written by Ken Gire.

I recently sent a delicate porcelain creche to my 10-year-old great niece for her birthday.  I thought Mady would enjoy setting it up each Christmas and it will probably be her first “grown-up gift”. In her birthday card I shared how the nativity reminds us of the night of Christ’s birth. Then I found myself really pondering that night, thousands of years ago when a weary Joseph was turned away by the innkeeper but offered use the stable. How Mary must have nodded, eager to slide off the donkey and massage her swollen ankles. I can imagine Joseph creaking open the stable door as a chorus of animals protest the intrusion, the pungent stench overwhelming. Such a shocking place for a woman in the throes of childbirth; far from her home and family. Far from what she had expected for her firstborn. Mary winces, fighting another contraction and Joseph desperately looks around the stable with no time to spare. He spots a feeding trough that will have to make do for the crib. Some hay will serve as the mattress. Blankets? He grabs some rags hanging out to dry and as Mary doubles over with the latest labor pain, he races for a bucket of water. Mary’s anguished scream cuts through the silent night and she pushes with all her strength. Joseph puts the garments beneath her and with a final push her labor is over, and the Messiah has arrived. The baby coughs and Joseph instinctively turns him over to clear his throat. When the baby cries, Mary lays him on her chest as his tiny head bobs and he gropes to nurse. Mary marvels at the tiny hand, a hand that sculpted mountains clings to her finger. She looks at Joseph and through teary eyes they smile. Together they stare in wonder at the infant Jesus.  Where one would expect angels, there were only flies. Where one would expect heads of state, there were only donkeys, a few haltered cows and some sheep, a tethered camel and the scurrying of barn mice. Except for Joseph, there is no one to share Mary’s pain. Or her joy. Yes, there were angels announcing the savior’s arrival – but only to a band of blue-collar shepherds. And yes, a magnificent star shown in the sky to mark the birthplace- but only three foreigners bother to look up and were following it.  Thus, in the little town of Bethlehem… that one silent night… the royal birth of God’s son tip toed quietly by… as the world slept.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. [Luke 2:6-7]