My son and my Savior

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I’m the one person who puts all her decorations up on November 1st and doesn't take them down until mid-February. I’m a huge fan of burlap and white string lights. Our tree is full of ornaments, new and old. I’m that person that finishes all her shopping before December 1st and could wrap presents as a full-time job. I look forward to every Christmas, but this year is extra special.

Our son was born 6 months ago and is at that stage of discovery and wanting to touch everything. Opening his presents will be such an exciting experience! But even with all this new wonder and excitement, I can’t help but reflect back on a Christmas birth two thousand years ago.

I actually started thinking about this after I heard the beautiful song, Sweet Baby Jesus by Carrie Underwood. She’s always been a favorite artist of mine, but listening to this particular song this year almost brought me to tears.

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“I wonder were You cold that night

Lying there by Mary's side?

Taking Your first breath

I wonder were You scared to death?”

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We were so very fortunate to give birth to our son in one of the best hospitals in town. He was cared for by a team of amazing nurses and doctors. I was given a room to rest and recover in for three days. (Still the most expensive hotel stay we’ve ever had!) I never worried once about him being too cold or not having a place to sleep.

And yet my Savior came down to this earth and was born into one of the most primitive conditions of His time. Born to a young teenage girl who was scared to death and probably had no idea what she was doing. All He had for a crib was a pile of hay that the animals had been chewing on only hours before.

I was brought to tears by the vast contrast when comparing the birth of my son and my Savior. I shudder at the thought of my baby boy being born into the conditions that Mary and Joseph couldn’t escape. I cannot imagine the grief that Mary felt when she couldn’t give her first born Son a proper bed or roof over His sweet little head.

And yet this was the method that God chose to send His Son into. He chose to send His Son this way so that my son could be born into a world where he is loved and cherished. A world that is sinful and yet filled with beauty beyond compare. We will never deserve this kind of sacrificial love. But aren’t we all thankful that He gives it anyway?

May you discover the love of your Savior on this special day.

Merry Christmas!