The Birth Plan

I remember what it was like the first time I gave birth. I was 23 years old, and I had my daughter in the hospital. My very special friend, who is a nurse, was by my side, and my wonderful husband was there to coach me along. My entire family was also there waiting for our newborn daughter to arrive.

I was in a comfortable bed, with clean sheets, and I had nurses who tended to my every need. I had all the ice chips a girl could want, and a bathroom with running water.

There was a television to distract me, and a CD player to play my favorite soft music.

I am a person that likes to have everything "just so". I made out a birth plan ahead of time, to ensure that everything would be done just the way I wanted it.

I made sure to bring all the comforts of home with me to the hospital, including my own pillow.

When I think about my first delivery compared to Mary, the mother of Jesus, I cannot imagine being in her shoes.

As I try to picture what it would be like to be nine months pregnant, and riding on a donkey, it is just inconceivable to me. Riding in the car during contractions was bad enough.

Then, to be told that there was no place to go to give birth, and I would have to give birth to my baby in a stable? I'm sure I would have complained, and whined, and probably even cried about the injustice of it all. I would have been mad at Hubs, because surely, SURELY, he could find a place! I mean....I'm about to give BIRTH! A stable just won't do!

We aren't told whether or not Mary felt this way. I'd like to think that since she was human, that may have been the case. The Bible never says she was perfect. Just that she was blessed among women. I'm sure she didn't always have the right attitude about things, and having to give birth in a stable may just have been one of them. After all, it is a known fact that pregnant women can be a bit....unreasonable at times.

Not that I would know anything about that though.

Just don't ask Hubs. He may remember things differently. But, this is MY blog, and I don't remember it that way ;)

Not much is said in the Bible about Jesus' birth. But, I am sure that a stable was NOT the ideal place to give birth to a baby.

I'm sure if Mary had her choice, she would have chosen a place a little more....appropriate. At least a place that would have had a bed for her to lie down in. I'm sure that her birth plan wouldn't have included giving birth next to farm animals or laying her newborn son in a dirty manger.

And yet, on that night so long ago, Jesus Christ was born. Emmanuel. God with us. Messiah.

He didn't come as a king, but as a tiny, helpless infant. He was born to ordinary parents, who were chosen by God to raise the Savior of the world.

This Christmas, as we remember His birth, we remember that He came into the world for a purpose. To save us from our sins, and give us the gift of salvation.

He came, not just for for the rich, or the educated, or the popular ones, but for ALL people. He came that we may have life, and have it more abundantly.

I can't think of a greater gift that anyone could offer me than the gift of salvation. A new iPad 2 pales in comparison.

The gift of eternal life.

This gift is still available today. Wise men STILL seek Him. But, it is a gift, and you must be willing to accept it.

Will YOU accept His wonderful gift?