Holy Birth

    With all our freedoms and liberty, we may not fully realize that the birth of Jesus almost didn't happen. First of all, the country where Jesus was born was under severe government oppression. Taxation took most of ones resources. These people were almost reduced to slavery. The poor paid taxes, as well as the wealthy. There were no tax refunds, child credits or exemptions. The government was indiscriminately oppressive.
    Also, Mary was a pregnant, unmarried teenage girl. The law stated that she must be put to death. Not by lethal injection, but rather by stones being thrown at her, until she was literally beaten to death, along with her unborn child. Also, medical services were not even close to being what we enjoy today. Many women died during child birth. Add that to the fact that they traveled a several days journey, at the end of her pregnancy, to an unfamiliar area. She didn't know the doctor in town, if there were one. On top of all that, there was not one room to be had, when they arrived. She gave birth in a stable instead. All of the possible bacterial, viral and filth that exists in a place animals resided, in an age when people didn't even have proper hygiene for themselves, let alone their animals, is simply frightening. I am barely scratching the surface of all the problems that came along with the birth of the savior of the world.
    Finally, he was still in danger of death two years after he had been born. Herod, the ruler of that area was a power obsessed, paranoid, maniac, that decreed every boy two years and under must be killed. Simply because he heard there was a child who would rule, other then himself, that had been born two years previously. Really? Ah, Yeah!
   As we celebrate Christmas, may we more fully realize what a miracle the birth of Jesus was. May we celebrate Him and be thankful that He came to free us from sin and death. That He loves us, and invites us to live with Him for eternity. Blessed be the Holy birth.