A Place to Stay

How will we ever find a place to stay with all these crowds?(
Everybody seems to have come to Bethlehem tonight.
Every inn, every lodging, every hall is full to bursting.
People are even camping out in tents outside the town.
But we have no place, no tent, nowhere to stay.
We are too tired to go much further.
And anyway, we must stay here for the census.
For we too are of the line of David.
They look at us incredulously when we ask for a place at this late hour.
 But the baby will be born soon.
It is nearly time. We must have a place to rest.
A kindly man leads us to an outhouse at the back of his home. It is warm and dry.
There is space for us here.
The baby will just have to find his place with the animals.

Mary’s journey was a difficult one Lord, in spite of her obedience to you, but you gave  her all that she and her little family needed, - and much more in unexpected ways.

Lord, thank you that you have promised always to be with us and to provide for our needs, even when our circumstances are difficult. Thank you too that you care for us with love and understanding, and in ways that bless and surprise us. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on you and not on the difficulties around us.