Child Free for a Day

This is the first weekday that I have been child-free for quite a while!  I've enjoyed my morning, so far.  I took my time reading through some blogs and checking out some older posts that I had just skimmed.

I need to get the dishes done and the kitchen straightened up.  I, also, need to get some shopping done while I can do it alone. I have a couple of gifts to wrap and hide under the tree. I think I've given up on my sewing room for the present.  I'll uncover it after New Year's.

Tonight is our cell group (small group Bible Study) Christmas get-together.  I'm looking forward to spending some fun time with folks that are very special to me.  We decided to do an Italian dinner tonight.  There will be lasagna, garlic salad, garlic bread, and lots of other yummy food.

I think while I wrap gifts, I'm going to watch "Borrowed Hearts".  It's a great Christmas movie!

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Change of subjects--

While I was reading through the Christmas story again and doing some studying in preparation for teaching, I ran across some interesting things to de-bunk some of the myths about the birth night of Christ:

1.  First read my post from last December, Think About This
2.  We sing songs like "Silent Night" and "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" and get a warped view of what probably was happening.
3.  The shepherds that received the announcement from the angels were probably guarding the sacrificial lambs since Bethlehem was the nearest lambing area to Jerusalem, and yet shepherds were nearly outcasts in the religious mindsets of the Jews.
4.  Where there are lambs being born, there are people that have been trained in difficult deliveries, so there were most likely very experienced mid-wives around to help Mary deliver her first child.
5.  Shepherds are NOT quiet people.  They shout.  They whistle at their dogs.  They know how to get a message heard.
6.  Mary and Joseph had just travelled nearly 100 miles and it probably took them about a week.  They were tired and footsore.
7.  Mary had just given birth to her first child.  That's a rough proposition no matter how healthy and "in shape" you are.
8.  If it was the middle of the night (let's just roll with this one) most of the people in Bethlehem were asleep, but not everyone.  It was on the road to Jerusalem and there was a Roman garrison stationed on that road.
9.  The shepherds that stayed out on the hillside to guard the flocks were making sure that everyone they could shout up heard the news that the angels had given them.
10. The shepherds that rushed into Bethlehem were excited, noisy men!  They woke up every inn keeper as they worked their way in to find that baby.
11.  Let's just go with a couple of mid-wives and their helpers in that stall helping Mary.  Even among the most experienced mid-wife teams, there is talking.  And the mess of delivery.  And a brand new mom.

It wasn't the pretty scene we see in creches all season long.  It wasn't quiet and peaceful.  The young family may not have been surrounded by family, but they were not alone.

It's still the most beautiful story of love and gifts!  God came as a child.  He wanted to redeem His creation from the chains of sin.  Mary loved God enough to yield to His will.  Joseph loved God and Mary enough to do whatever he needed to do to make sure this Child was cared for.  And down through the ages we are still reaping the benefits of all of that love and devotion!