Cradle To The Cross - Part 1

I slowly shuffled into the stable, so tired I could barely put one foot in front of the other. Joseph held onto me as the innkeeper quickly cleared a spot on the dirt floor. The little town was overcrowded due to the census, and this was the only available place for us to lay down our weary heads…and weary we were. Having walked and ridden donkey-back nearly one hundred miles over the past ten days, my very pregnant body ached everywhere. Oh, how I longed for some sleep, even if it was to be found on the cold floor of this dirty barn out back.

 Joseph did his best to make a comfortable space for me and then ever-so- gently helped me lie down. Within minutes, I fell sound asleep. I awoke a few hours later to a pain so intense it took my breath away. I sat up and wrapped my arms around my belly, wondering if that was a…oh yes, it was definitely a contraction! I shook Joseph to wake him, reminding myself to stay calm and to keep breathing as the contractions started coming harder and faster. “It’s time, Joseph – he’s coming!” I cried and pushed until the baby tore through the womb and took his first human breath. When I heard his newborn cry, I fell back in relief and utter exhaustion. Joseph carefully cleaned up the baby and then placed him in my arms. While I swaddled him in strips of cloth, Joseph gathered some clean hay to fill the manger that we would use as a cradle. I nursed my son, and then laid him in the manger. Joseph and I stared lovingly at this holy infant, just taking in the sight of him. Even knowing that he was not biologically this baby’s father, Joseph understood the importance of the role he had in the life of the Christ-child. Without taking his eyes off of him, he declared, “His name is Jesus, for He is the One who will save the people from their sins.” We smiled and looked at one another, each remembering the message we’d received through the angel.

 What an indescribable gift! I uttered a prayer of sincerest thanks to God as I carefully picked up my firstborn son and held him against my chest. I wept in exhaustion as well as exhilaration. The Promised One was here – in my arms. I kissed his head and gently stroked his face, softly humming a lullaby. Joseph quietly slipped back into his place next to me, strongly yet gently supporting both me and this precious child. Over the next hours, I faded in and out of sleep as I cared for our newborn son. Through the deep dark of the night, my tired eyes saw the reflection of a bright light somewhere in the sky. And I am quite certain I even heard singing somewhere in the distance…