This is my second time having a newborn around Christmas. I love it, really I do. I look at sweet Jack and can not help but think of the birth of our Savior. I have been thinking of Mary quite frequently this holiday season, especially her extreme faith and courage. The courage it took to look at her newborn son and know the immense pain and struggles he would face in his mortal life. As a mother it is difficult to ponder the trials your children will bear and I wonder if she instead thought of all the joy her son would bring. I look at Jack and can not help but ponder all the wonderful things he will do in this life. Yes, he will have pain but to dwell on that would only detract from his overwhelming sweetness. I hope Mary had wonderful moments with her new son that brought her happiness and peace.
Why was Jesus born in a manager? An outdoor bed of straw is no woman's first choice to experience birth. The pains and discomfort of labor are real and I am sure Mary prayed very fervently that one of the inns had a room for her. Did Heavenly Father hear her prayers? I have no doubt that he heard every one and I am sure he wanted the woman giving birth to his son to have every comfort during such a painful and scary time as birth. I have come to know this Christmas that Jesus's birth in the manager was a planned event meant to teach us all humility. The King of Kings was born in the most simple and humble of circumstances. I hope I can always remember that keeping Christmas simple is not a bad thing. In fact, it is the way it should be celebrated. I find myself worrying over doing every fun christmas activity and making/keeping all these fun traditions. It can all be very stressful for me. But then I think of Mary and how she went through labor and birth in a barn/cave/manager or whatever exactly it was (but it wasn't on a nice comfortable bed) so that we could understand the importance of being humble. I need to learn that when it comes to celebrating Jesus's birth less is more!
Sad that she did not get to hold Jack
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