Away in a Manger

A couple of Sunday's ago they pulled out the Christmas songs starting with "Away in a Manger."

The first line struck me.

"Away in a manger no crib for a bed."

We had just ordered our crib, and today we picked it up. Obviously, we know Jesus did not have a crib only a manger. But this Christmas the birth of Jesus is just a little more special with our little one on the way.

Yeah, Mary did not have a shower. We have had 4. We have a crib. In fact, we have a crib and a pack in play, which is a bassinet and a play pin. And we have the travel version. Mary had to travel with Jesus in her arms, or give him to Joseph. I am thinking of their going to Egypt with an newborn/infant. No car seats. No car seat installations. Just their arms.

And speaking of traveling, Mary had a long walk down to Bethlehem. And I know that would be a long slow walk if Lady R and I had to do that. That maybe why they arrived too late in Bethlehem to get a room in the inn. And maybe that's why she went into labor when they got down there.

And how did they cut the umbilical cord? And what did they do for diapers? and wipes? and lotion? and any diaper rash? And what was the first bath like? What were all the small details at that first Christmas? There were no cameras to document, no videos to show, no blogs to write. All we have is how the story was reported by Matthew and Luke.

This will be a different Christmas. Little One will be taking center stage. And we, the parents, will begin reading the Christmas story empathizing more than ever with Mary and Joseph wondering how they did it with nothing.

They wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manager.