Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Ok… for a (sassy) Christian blogger, how can I not dive into the birth of our Lord and Savior?  I’m sure that you, too, are celebrating this HUGE birthday.  Perhaps you have invited your friends and family for cake and presents.  Or, perhaps you are traveling to another venue to sing “Happy Birthday, dear Jesus” with gifts in tow.

So, a couple of things here… The journey to Bethlehem was kind of crazy, wasn’t it?  I mean, truly, can you imagine such a trip?  The story we’ve been told conjures up the visual of Joseph on foot, leading a donkey with a VERY pregnant Mary atop.  Ummm… if you’ve ever been pregnant… can you imagine?   I doubt that Mary was feeling very “Merry and Bright?”   Atop a donkey, on a long journey, with child??… Oh, poor Joseph.

Speaking of Joseph… let’s dive in.  Ok, so Mary was betrothed to him and was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  WHAT?!  A round of applause for Joseph here.  Furthermore, he was told in a DREAM by an ANGEL to take Mary as his wife, name the child Jesus, and Jesus would save the people from their sins.  Now, Joseph is a man; as human as you and I.  Think about this.  Would you listen to an angel in your dream?  Said angel is asking a lot here… again, hip hip hoorah for Joseph.  Many men, many people, would no more listen to this than the man in moon.  Insert FAITH here:  the belief in the unseen.  Well done, Joseph.  Well done.   He did as the angel commanded.

Now, let’s place this story in modern day.  Can you even picture this?  A very pregnant (and in labor) woman and her donkey-leading husband arrive at your doorstep in the middle of the night.  Would you turn them away?   I imagine that Joseph, like many expectant fathers, was erratic in behavior searching for a place for Mary to lie down.  Now, Hollywood has given this biblical story a dramatic twist throughout the years. “No room at the Inn” has become somewhat of slang term.  In fact, biblical scholars infer that they were simply looking for a “guest room” in a family home. Yet, I can imagine that it was still pretty wild.    His wife in labor, atop a donkey, would certainly have ignited a frenzy within my husband, too.

Oh, and for the record, if you ever show up on my doorstep in labor and atop a donkey… I’ll invite you right in.  In fact, this time of year, there are many of us who wish for a knock… many who long for the extra miracles… and many who desire the attendance of the fallen branches of our family tree.

Of the many miracles that transpired to bring Jesus to life, perhaps this evening was the most significant.  For, it is told, that He knew of his plight.  He knew of the life that lie ahead for him.  Yet, He came forth…into the world.  For the LOVE of us all.

In the spirit of Jesus, and God the Father, I wish you all a very Merry CHRISTmas.  Welcome to the party… Cheers to you, Jesus.

Happy Birthday.

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