What are your living expectations? Do you expect to be in a nice house that is solid, keeping the elements off you, keeping you warm in the winter, and cool in the summer? What if you did not have that?
It was not that long along people in our country did not have such luxuries. Less than two hundred years ago, people were riding wagons across unknown territory to discover the west. Even just one hundred years ago, the automobile was still in its infancy.
As we were sitting here on Christmas Eve telling stories, our children (who are grown and, in their twenties), could not believe some of the living conditions we dealt with when we were kids. Think about that for just a moment. Some of the memories are less than fifty years old. My how living conditions have changed and how expectations have changed so quickly.
Again, think back to the migration to the west. They would have thought nothing of the conditions of Jesus’ birth. They would have been just as comfortable sleeping on the hay as they would on a bed. Many of them slept on the ground, curled up in a blanket, laying around a campfire.
Mary and Joseph were not able to acquire a guest room anywhere. A host was gracious enough to allow them to sleep in their stable. Mary wrapped the newborn babe in some cloths and laid him in some hay. Not exactly the way for a king to come into the world.
I pray we all take stock of our blessings on this Christmas Day. I pray we remember how blessed we are. I pray each one of us remember our Savior’s birth and give thanks to God today. Be thankful. Remember your blessings. Remember Jesus’ birth. Remember He gave His life for you.
Luke 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Marty Pressey 