We Had What We Needed
And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes
and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. --Luke
2:7
In 1967, the remodeling of our house in Dallas, Texas, should have been
completed. It was December and every room was in a state of construction, except
one bedroom and bathroom. The workmen were cautioned to have the new kitchen
completed, or at least working, before tearing out the old one. We were residing
in construction chaos.
Leaving our two-year-old daughter with relatives, we rushed to the hospital on
December 13. Our tiny, healthy son was born two weeks earlier than expected.
Arriving back home with our newborn and toddler, we discovered our old kitchen
was gone. The workers were beginning work on the new one. The gas range was
disconnected in the foyer and a sheet of plastic was hanging in place of the
north wall. It was cold and drafty. The only water source was the bathroom.
Realizing that we would be spending the next months in a single bedroom with a
newborn and active two-year-old was disheartening. Washing dishes in the
bathroom and cooking in the foyer, with only plastic sheeting to keep out the
winter elements, was even more discouraging.
Christmas dinner surrounded by our family in our new dining-living area was
temporarily a dream. Meanwhile, the construction nightmare made it hard to
experience the spirit and joy of the season. This was not true for our toddler
daughter. She embraced the holidays with child-like enthusiasm. Learning
Christmas jingles and songs from television, she loved our tiny tabletop
Christmas tree with twinkling lights. Playing with the ceramic crèche pieces
made by my mother, she knew "the Jesus in a manger" piece was a baby
like her newborn brother.
On Christmas Day our small room was spacious enough for a tree, a crèche, an
excited two-year-old opening gifts, a tiny new baby, and a thankful mom and dad.
It was a small room filled with joy and love. We had everything we needed for a
wonderful Christmas. We were reminded of the very first Christmas when a baby,
born in a stable, brought love and joy to the whole world.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for providing us with shelter, our daily bread,
and our health. We thank you for the joy children bring to our lives. Most of
all, we thank you for the Baby Jesus, born in a manger long ago, who taught the
world how to love. Amen.
--Joycelyn and Ben S.