Why is this night different from all other nights?

This age old question, usually arises around the Passover table at Jewish homes all around the world every year. Although the answer to this question should be taken from the inscriptions on the driedel from Hannukah,the hebrew letters say: Nun Gimel Hay Shin ~"Nes Gadol Hayah Sham"(A Great Miracle happened there).

This night, thousands of years ago, a great miracle happened there. In Bethlehem, while sheperds were tending their flocks by night~lo, an angel of the Lord came upon them, and they were sore afraid. The angel said to them, "do not be afraid, for I have tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." The angel made Mary aware that she was with child, and to her husband, aware that it was ok, even though she was a still a virgin ...that God had placed within her womb, the Christ child, they were to name Jesus. She gave birth to Jesus in a manger, in a lowly animal stall. Mary and Joseph came to the inn, by way of camelback. Can you imagine being that pregnant and on a camel? And, then to find out there is no room for them in the Inn? Can you imagine all the things most modern women would have been saying???? Let see...."Honey, give ME the GPS, there has got to be another Inn somewhere here!", or "you have got to be kidding me?", "Ewwww, where animals are"? or "YOU want ME to have MY child HERE?-Have you lost your marbles??", or so many other scenarios I can think of. The point is, Mary trusted God to guide her, not the GPS, not the innkeeper, not even Joseph, but God. She didn't complain because she didn't have a Burberry blanket to wrap him in, nor a Coach baby bag, or a Rodeo drive outfit for the long trip home, much less an Escalade for a comfortable ride. She was humble and gracious, kind and committed, gentle and faithful..as I read today in a devotional booklet, that maybe having no room at the Inn, didn't mean the Innkeeper was cold and arrogant, it may have meant that he, also wanted them to have peace, quiet and a gentle place in which to lay their heads. Because as you well know, travellers sometimes are not the most gentle people, and when you are pregnant, and bursting, you want peace and quiet and SOME ROOM!!! So, as it was, the little Christ child so humble and mild, was born this night, In the little manger in the hay, in a stall of animals, amongst the gentle animals, and not amongst less likely gentle people. As he slept in Heavenly peace in the barn of the Inn...Mary was grateful, for her time had come to share with us, what she had within her, Jesus Christ, our Emmanuel! Glory be to God in the Higest, Peace and Goodwill to all Men(and women).
MERRY CHRISTMAS!