“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” - Luke 2:7
In this Christmas season, how are you making room for others in your life?
What ways are you showing generosity and hospitality to others?
As we share the nativity story each year, we must be careful to not allow the wonder or mystery of the story to escape us or miss what God might be teaching us.
Today, I’m reflecting on a phrase that almost seems to be an afterthought with a plain reading of the text. Luke 2:7 - “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, they needed a place to stay.
Do you remember why they had to go to Bethlehem specifically during the census?
It’s because that’s where Joseph was from and that is where he had family.
The word that is translated “inn” is related to the word for guest room or upper room found in Luke 22:11, which was a common feature of houses in Israel. Joseph and Mary weren’t knocking on the door of the Holiday Inn, they were likely 40 weeks pregnant and crowded out of the guest room of extended relatives.
One might wonder why within a nation that prides itself for hospitality, this vulnerable family had to go to a stable to give birth and place their baby in a feeding trough. We too easily overlook the scandal of this “mysterious pregnancy” that took place out of wedlock.
In what ways did this shame their families?
This vulnerable family is now an inconvenience that is relegated to dwell among the livestock.
But what about us?
What about how we interact with scandalized and vulnerable children and families?
Do we keep them at arms length and relegate them to dirty places or do we embrace them and bring them into our own homes?
I’m encouraged by the Kenyan Children’s Project celebration of Advent this year and the opportunity that they present for us all to help children and vulnerable families also dwell in safety this season.
A child going home, a vulnerable family protected in a safe dwelling, this is the Christmas spirit.
Let’s open our homes and let’s help children in Kenya also get home this Advent season.
- Brandon Stiver (Community of Practise Director, 1Million Home)
There’s still time to make sure a vulnerable child is rescued, protected and safe this Christmas - donate here.