Thursday, December 24

And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
—Luke 2:7

So often, we focus on the fact that there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph as they traveled. It seems harsh and unfair that they had to suffer being turned away again and again, until one innkeeper finally offered them a stable. 

It seems undignified for the Son of God to be born in such a place and to sleep not in a fancy crib, but a rustic manger. As unreasonable and difficult as it seems to us, Mary and Joseph were probably thrilled, not that they were given a stable, but that the child they had long awaited was about to be born.

It's easy to look at the situations in our lives that seem hard and harsh, unreasonable and unfair, and find all of our positive energy sucked away. We blame ourselves, we blame others, we blame God. We are angry at our situation and angry at those who have it better than we do.

The more we allow our positive energy to be stolen, the more spiritually dry we become. Even in situations that seem to look hopeless, there's always a child waiting to be born. When we focus on what is trying to be birthed in us, we will find our positive energy returning as we look forward to the goodness yet to come.

Gracious God, when I am tempted to see only the unfairness of my situation, remind me of the miracles waiting to be born.