I get a bucket of horse feed and start banging it against the fence. I see Boo Jack and Sally across the road in our neighbor's field. They both turn and look at me like "what are you doing out here in this weather?" Sometimes I swear the way they cock their heads and stare at me causes me to recall a particular one of daddy's looks.
Benny is making his way to the top of the hill to coax them back to the barn. They seem pretty eager to get back home and into their spot. I stood there in the mucky manure and dirt looking around. I walked into the stable where it was dry, but still messy, stepping in manure and being aware of the smell. I couldn't help but think of Mary and how she must have felt knowing she was about to give birth in a setting similar to this. Growing up in all of the church plays we did, a manger scene was made to look old and shabby with hay sprinkled about. But boy was that probably an inaccurate replica.
Why would God bring his Son to the world in this setting? I remember being taught something about "lowly"... But it hit me. The stable represents the world. God put his precious Son (my Savior) in this mucky, smelly, sin infested place and what better representation than that of a stable.
Follow up - 1/17/2014
I woke up to this surprise. A beautiful philly conceived in February. My daddy had hoped Boo Jack would like Sally for a girlfriend. Hmm! He was right. I hope he can see her from Heaven. She is beautiful.
