"We have no beds: there is still no room available for you to deliver." I stood there in dismay and perplexity as the registrant repeated what she had just told my pregnant daughter.
Are these people crazy? We have been at home on standby waiting for induced labor from 8 am till now...almost 7 pm, and there was still no room? Bryanna was about to be in week 42 of her pregnancy and the doctor wanted to ensure the baby was safely delivered. Induction was not our preferred choice and we were praying for God to intervene even now. Yet I wondered why her doctor would make us drive 30 plus minutes to be told to go back home or go to triage: which you guessed it, also had no room! I was miffed and after clarifying that Bry might not be a priority for induction because of so many other emergency births, we drove back home. I renewed my efforts in prayer that God would allow her to deliver Baby Ivy naturally.
At around Midnight my daughter called my phone, she thought she was experiencing contractions. I told her to time them and then let me know their intervals. She first reported that they were occurring every 15 or so minutes and then her second report after 1:00 am was that she was contracting every 9 minutes: I told her to get dressed and we drove back to the hospital. We waited only about 30 minutes before a room was cleaned and made ready for her. It was a good thing because Baby Ivy was on her way.
In the end, Ivy was born just before Sunset on Friday, December 9, 2022, without being induced. What a gift! God's beautiful gift to our little family. At that very moment, love filled every room, especially the room in our hearts.
There was a very similar experience over 2000 years ago in a little town called Bethlehem.
Young Mary and her husband went on a business trip, and her contractions began their adventure. Little baby Jesus was on His way and they had to find a place for him to be delivered. Everywhere they went, they were told "No Room". (Matthew 1:18- 25; Luke 2:1-40). They were turned away. Those were not words that any pregnant mother wanted to hear, but those were words that Jesus shouldn't have heard as well.
But thank God for the lowly manger where Jesus was born. And what a wonderful Gift! God's beautiful gift to our human family. At that moment, Love filled every room-- not only just the manger, and the hearts of that little family-- but the entire world at large! The bible regales that on that blessed night: "suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2: 13, 14). John echoes the sentiment of Our Father's willingness to give us all of heaven in this familiar way:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Readers, family, and friends, today in this festive season when the world celebrates Christmas, does Jesus hear " no room" still because you and I are more caught up in the season or something else and have no room for God's gift, wrapped up in Jesus. Does He have room to fill our entire hearts because we have been preparing it for Him every day and all throughout the year? Or... have you and I been too busy with other stuff or presents? Don't worry, God is gracious!
Today, if you and I are willing, God's Gift, Jesus, is waiting to visit every chamber of your heart, not as a visitor, but as a permanent resident. Just like my granddaughter Ivy: "gift of God" filled our hearts with unfettered love, Jesus, God's Gift to this world will fill our hearts with love, undeniable, boundless, and absolutely breathtaking. Like the angels previously mention we will burst forth in matchless praise:
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6,7
Won't you leave lots of "room" for Him to bless you with unspeakable joy? I will by God's grace and pray you will do the same. May it be when others fellowship with you during this holiday season, that they will say that He or she is so full of love and adoration for Christ... there is "no room" for the world's seductions!
Taste. Enjoy! Respond. Like! Share. Be encouraged!
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