One very painful thing in life is to have a special event or a special day and no one celebrates with you.  It hurts in a very profound way.  It’s something I was thinking about after seeing the Christmas Chosen movie at the theater tonight.

Mary just had a baby.  They were not in their hometown for people to celebrate, although they might not have given the circumstances.  And in the town where they were at, there was no room in the inn “for them.”  No person in Middle Eastern culture would ever deny hospitality to a pregnant woman about to give birth.  This was a slight of the hometown boy returning with a seemingly knocked up girlfriend.

So the baby was born and then what?  Where was the party?  Where was the celebration?  Everything in you wants to celebrate with others this new life.  But I’m guessing there wasn’t hardly anyone.

Except that God had plans to celebrate.  He remembers those parties where people don’t come.  He has had one too.

So he arranges the party.  He meets up with shepherds and tells them to go celebrate.  He meets the magi in the stars and tells them to go celebrate.  There was much celebration, it just looked different.  God arranged the party this time.  And because it was different is what made it so special.  And memorable.