It Was No Overlake Childbirth Center

It’s pretty easy to list what the manger scene was not…

It was not luxurious.

It was not comfortable.

It was not sanitary.

It was not heated or air conditioned or ventilated.

It was not the Overlake Childbirth Center.

It was not a place Mary or any other expectant mother would plan to give birth in.

And yet… it was something.

It was some form of shelter.

It was the place where Jesus was born.

It even had visiting hours—shepherds came and wise men brought gifts.

The story of the birth of Jesus has plenty of bad news: Mary—pregnant before the wedding, Joseph her fiancé isn’t the father, the census and taxes, traveling during the 3rd trimester of her pregnancy, a crowded village, no vacancies, no doctors or midwives or nurses, no extended family there, no hot tub, no shower, no epidural, a crazed king issuing orders to kill all baby boys born in Bethlehem…

That’s a lot of bad news.

Yet, in the midst of bad news, Good News shined.

The Savior, the Messiah, the Lord—was born and this is good news that brings great joy to all people.

Just like it’s easy to list what the manger scene was not, it’s easy list “what’s not” in our lives—highlighting what’s missing, lacking and not working. Yes, coming up with a big list of bad news is easy work.

But we’re Good News people, right?

Rather than complaining about what we don’t have, we celebrate what we do have.

Bad news is all around us, but we shine.

The Apostle Paul said, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4.11-13)