Tonight is Christmas Eve, one of the most special days of the year for Christians who celebrate the birth of Jesus that night and on into Christmas Day. The story of Jesus' birth has been written about for centuries, from the biblical stories to those written with great imagination by other authors. Small children learn to sing "Away In A Manger" at an early age, and they know the story about Mary riding a donkey to Bethlehem, Joseph walking by her side. How the very young Mary gave birth to the baby Jesus in a lowly stable behind an inn that was too full. 'No room at the inn' has become a statement used by many these more than two thousand years since it occurred.
The star that guided the shepherds and Wise Men to the stable has also been written about, songs sung each Christmas season about the star, as well.
The characters in the Christmas story are known to all Christians from the landlord of the inn to the youngest shepherd to the animals in the stable. Factual recounts, fables, folklore, pure fantasy--all have used this old and great story. What is fact and what is fiction? They intertwine sometimes, but the basic truth of the story remains. God's son was born.
For Christians, the story never gets old, they hear it every Christmas season and keep it in their hearts all year long. For all who celebrate this blessed event tonight, whether alone or with loved ones--a very Merry Christmas.
No comments:
Post a Comment