Giving Birth to Love

and while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. - Luke 2:6-7 (NLT)

Can I just say this is one of the most understated events in the bible????  The truth of this hit me yesterday and I'm still pondering it today.  Just one simple sentence to describe the most incredible (and incredibly painful) event in our history.

How scary and potentially horrific do you think it was for this brand new mother? No kind and caring midwife helping her deliver this baby. No warm, comfortable home to ease her pain.  Unsanitary and uncomfortable circumstances to be sure.

Do you think Joseph knew what he was doing? Do you think he was much help during this terrifying and painful ordeal?

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
      and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. - Luke 2:8-19 (NLT)

Who do you think, other than a midwife or experienced mother, would have some knowledge about birth and what needs to happen afterward in the little town of Bethlehem?  Perhaps men who tended their flocks with care, helping them birth their young and making sure they were cleaned up afterward so that they would remain healthy and productive?

In the Bible, Jesus is referred to as our Shepherd. Why? Because he takes care of us as a shepherd takes care of his flock.  I think it an amazing miracle (as only God provides) that it was shepherds who were called to come and witness Jesus' birth.  Not just because they would tell everyone about it. No, I think they had a much greater purpose in this event (that was perhaps a little too graphic to write down in His Story).

I'm pretty sure these shepherds saved the life of Mary and her firstborn son. At the very least they helped make them both more comfortable, I'm sure.  Who knows, they may have even given reassurance to Joseph, maybe provided temporary nourishment (sheep's milk, maybe?) for Jesus (the Lamb of God) while Mary regained her strength, perhaps imparted some knowledge on what to expect in the coming days.

If I were Mary, I would have been challenged (to say the least) by this experience.  All her faith and trust in the Lord and His plan may have been chucked out the window when those birthing pains finally kicked into high gear.  It's hard to think rationally when a miracle is being ripped from your body.  It's a pretty traumatic way to have a new life finally enter our world. I can only imagine what it may have been like to be the vessel that helped bring our Lord (Love made flesh) into this world!

But, God sent helpers...because Mary needed them. He loves us enough to send His only son into our world to save us.  How could He not love her enough to send her knowledgeable helpers to ease her pain and care for her?  I think this may have been one of the many treasures that she stored in her heart and looked back upon later.

Dear Lord - thank you for opening this window into another dimension of your great plan.  I love seeing the complexity of You! Just as when Jesus boiled every law and instruction you gave down to two simple commandments, you had the author of this book write a very simple statement about your son's birth...and yet there is a world of complexity behind it.  I look forward to you revealing more facets of your truth as I continue my journey through your Word. I love you and thank you for everything you have done for me...and for all of us!

Blessings and peace,

Leah