“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7
What amazes me about the Christmas story is not the miracles, the fulfillment of prophecy, the supernatural visitations. No, it’s the feeding trough. A vessel designed for animals, but designated by God to cradle His Son.
This is no ‘happenstance’, the result of poor planning on Joseph’s part. No, this is God’s demonstration of grace: He became poor that we, through His poverty, might become rich.
I wonder at the feeding troughs in our lives? You know, those things that disturb us, unsettle us. Hard things. Unlovely things. Perhaps ugly, downright smelly things. We see them as rough, abrasive. And we long to change them, smooth out their edges, make them more acceptable.
But could it be that they are God’s cradle, designed to hold the Christ-child? Could it be that if we were to look for Jesus there, we would find their poverty give way to riches, the wealth of God’s grace?
The shepherds looked for the Christ-child in the manger and found Him. Follow suit. Look for Him in your own feeding trough and you will find Him!
Blessings this Christmas season,
Marcia
