{"id":330,"date":"2013-12-31T16:20:58","date_gmt":"2013-12-31T22:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?p=330"},"modified":"2014-03-13T16:27:42","modified_gmt":"2014-03-13T21:27:42","slug":"make-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?p=330","title":{"rendered":"Make Room"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cBut many who are first will be last, and the last first.\u201d Matthew 19:30<\/em><\/p>\n

The moon was so bright during December. When it reached fullness before Christmas it rose dramatically in the east and hung round and silver throughout the night. All during the season I couldn\u2019t help thinking it was the same moon \u2013 the same moon!<\/em> \u2013 that lighted Bethlehem the night Jesus was born. I don\u2019t know what phase it was in then \u2013 maybe no one does. I\u2019ve never read anything about it. But I don\u2019t have to know astronomy to imagine the shepherds noticing the moon and stars as they called softly and perhaps sang to the sheep under their care. People who spend their lives outside notice the sky \u2013 it\u2019s an important part of each day. Maybe their watchfulness had something to do with the Lord sending angels to announce His Big Gift. Anything we might speculate about the kind of men these were would be just that \u2013 pure conjecture. But weren\u2019t they blessed while they went about another uneventful evening in their humble, simple lives as caretakers?<\/p>\n

Contrast them with the innkeepers, about whom we know nothing except that business was good. Lots of paying customers thanks to Caesar Augustus. I had a career that frequently put me on the road and in hotels over the years. I know how it goes, especially when the house is packed with people who don\u2019t get out much. Most likely the atmosphere at the inn was raucous and upbeat. Everyone was having a good time, making the most of it. No doubt there was plenty of talk about politics and the economy and all the important current events.<\/p>\n

Imagine worn out Mary and Joseph showing up at the door. Sorry, no vacancy. She was starting labor for crying out loud. They\u2019d just walked a hundred miles. Forget the innkeepers. How is it that not one person staying there that night stepped up to offer their room to an exhausted girl about to bear her first child? Everyone must have been pretty wrapped up in their own business. At least the innkeepers offered the stable, if not their own quarters. No doubt they would have made haste to roll out the red carpet if they\u2019d known Who arrived on their doorstep.<\/p>\n

But the Lord doesn\u2019t show up that way, does He? He didn\u2019t then and He doesn\u2019t now.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter how famous or infamous we are. It doesn\u2019t matter who we think we are. It doesn\u2019t matter how lofty we esteem our calling and gifts. It doesn\u2019t matter how critical we believe our endeavors are to the advancement of God\u2019s Kingdom. No really, it doesn\u2019t. We all must learn to make room in our busy lives for the humblest among us who present themselves at the least convenient times. If we refuse, we may be surprised to find our lives are found wanting when weighed in the balance.<\/p>\n

I finish this year feeling there is some timeless wisdom in Sam Cooke\u2019s great song Wonderful World.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t know much about history.
\nDon\u2019t know much biology.
\nDon\u2019t know much about a science book.
\nDon\u2019t know much about the French I took.<\/p>\n

But I do know that I love you,
\nAnd I know that if you love me too,
\nWhat a wonderful world this would be.<\/p>\n

Happy, happy Christmas. All year long.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Melissa Kay Simonds<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cBut many who are first will be last, and the last first.\u201d Matthew 19:30 The moon was so bright during December. When it reached fullness before Christmas it rose dramatically in the east and hung round and silver throughout the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Mo02-5k","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":829,"url":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?p=829","url_meta":{"origin":330,"position":0},"title":"Love The One You’re With","author":"lsimonds","date":"March 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Tribe. n.\u00a0a group of persons having a common character, occupation, or interest \"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.\" Romans 12:18 ESV I recently enjoyed the company of a three year old for\u00a0a few days\u2014the daughter of good friends. 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