6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7a And she gave birth to her firstborn son.
It’s so fitting that this scripture was available for me on this day. December 11th is our youngest daughter Emily's birthday! The birth of Jesus Christ was nothing like the birth of my child, but I want to believe that Mary and Joseph looked at Jesus with the same wonder, love, and joy as we did when we first held Emily. We can only imagine that newborn baby Jesus was cherished, loved, and adored by his parents, just like our children. Our savior was born in a cold, dirty space and Mary only had Joseph to coach her through the labor and birth. Now there are teams of people there to help bring children into this world (most of the time). Christ's birth was radically different from the births of our children. His humble birth is a deliberate part of God's plan to fulfill prophecy and demonstrate his love, power, and mercy.
Reflection: How can we live out the message of humility that Jesus' birth teaches, by serving others and focusing on God's love rather than our own needs and wants?
Father God, thank you for revealing through Jesus' humble birth that you love people from all backgrounds. Help us to choose your way of living, to care, not about ourselves, but others. May we learn to serve even as you came to serve. Amen.
