We have journeyed a good distance in nearly three full weeks to arrive with these shepherds at the manger. From the first news of the census, to packing up and departing for Bethlehem, to making the grueling 90 mile trip, to coming to Bethlehem only to find there is no guest room for them, the whole ordeal has been a great challenge. Mary and Joseph are exhausted, and the time comes for Jesus to be born. Jesus comes as all babies do, and Mary and Joseph give praise to God that all is well with both Mary and the baby.

When we finally arrive (exhausted as well) at the manger, the scene is not what were are expecting. It is not a “silent night” and the baby is not “sleeping in heavenly peace.”

Andrew Peterson in his song “Labor of Love” describes it this way…

It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David’s town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother’s hand to hold

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph by her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
On the streets of David’s town
In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

For little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love

Listen to this song here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQZmni-oeg4

While it comforts our hearts to picture the Nativity in such a serene way, the reality was simply a different story. The stable was dirty and smelly, the animals were loud (and very smelly), and Mary and Joseph were likely very stressed about the whole situation.

Joseph worried, angels shouted, shepherds hurried, animals paced, and Mary…pondered.

If there if one thing I have learned from my beautiful wife, women are uniquely gifted with the ability to slow down and treasure the moments of life while everything and everyone is striving around them. It’s recorded in just one small verse hidden in the narrative, but Luke shares…

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19 NIV

We would do well amidst the chaos of our holiday season to slow down and treasure the baby in the manger whose life and death redeems our hearts from the brokenness of sin. After all, here at the manger is where we find the true celebration of Christmas.

Prayer Emphasis: Simply take time today to worship at the manger while those who are there gathered around. Thank God for His unfailing love!

For Family Discussion:
Take time today to reread Luke 2:1-20 slowly finding the wonder in every detail. Make a family list of all of the amazing parts of this Advent narrative.
In what ways do our modern depictions of the Nativity differ from the account in Luke 2?