The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-12-25
THE FACTS
n OUR NE VS.
THE BABE IN A MANGER
sy HORACE A. WHITE

Christ Was born IN . horse trough!
People had come from everywhere
up to jerusalem 10 pay their taxes
and the city was overcrowded. The
landlords were charging high prices
to people for . place 70 stay. The
people who came 10 make their
contribution 70 their government
were huddled together like cattle
and even with cattle. Here they
were. nevertheless, 70 do what their
government had ordered.
Mary and Joseph. the prospective
mother and father OF Jesus were
among the people who came long.
weary distances to pay their taxes.
Mary was expecting her baby soon.
but she had a government edict to
perform with her husband at Jeru-
salem. II did not matter much II
she should have been home. You
and ] have witnessed such scenes
a hundred times over. We see 1t
great deal more these days-young
women rushing to catch trains and
buses TO meet their husbands who
are working in distant places or
preparing in some army camp to
do battle for Old Glory. We look at
these young women and say to our
selves. They ought to be home"
No. they can't stay home they
must follow their men. No cost or
hardship Is too great for q woman
to follow the man she loves. What
difference does II make II, when
they get where they are going. the
only place for them to put their
tired hGSds Is in some howell ut 4
'isgracefully high price. Govern
-ent has ordered her man and he
beyed - her heart and soul order
''er and she obeys. Foolish" the
'undane say. Just such foolishness
n the part Of women gives to the
vorld Prince Of Peace, and Il II
-"onderful.
What light could we point to in
'hese dark days were it not for
he Babe born in a manger? To-
lay as always He is the Light OF
he present dark world. His abid-
ing comfort giving personality
stands at the head OF battle lines
covered with smoke and blood. say
ing, Love ye one another"
Has it ever occurred to you TO
look closely for a moment at Mary,
Jesus mother? She displayed her
self In consummate motherhood
She did not whine about having ia
sleep In . stable and ultimately ia
give birth 70 her baby In that same
stable. There was good reason for
her attitude ct such . time. What
kind Of . mother would she have
been to become more concerned
about the baby crib than the baby
more concerned about what people
thought about her unfortunate cir
cumstances than about what she
must think about her very own
child? Mary put first things first
In her thinking and feeling.
What a blessing II Is to have the
opportunity Of being a part of Di-
vine creation through parenthood
Barring the accidents of birth. par.
ents give to their children all Of
the fundamental mlterial with
which children have 10 work al
OF their lives. This giving Is done
terrifyingly early too! Mary must
have sensed this.
We see her In the midst Of dark.
ness and momentary despair, but
uttering never . defeatist's word
She holds in her arms the most
precious gift I'm Gods power "a
give-in the presence Of horse
stencil and filth. All about her were
skeptical. mean and narrow men
In such a surrounding Mary knew
she had to protect her baby. The
world now knows she did. Her
method was so simple. and yet il
was the only way it could be done
She permitted her life-giving love
to crowd out the stencil Of animals
and the useless babble Of frus-
trated men in order that her baby
could become the Son Of God. Mary
knew that her baby should not have
had to be born In such physical
surroundings. But He was! Mary
too had the choice Of letting the
negative in surroundings take
charge over the positive in her
self. She decided to give the latter
charge.
How often we see \this same
choice presented TO mothers in our
time. Too often they give way to
the negative around them ano
thereby hinder just that much the
onward march Of Gods world
Children are Gods instrument.
through which a bloodthirsty anc
frightened world increasingly
emerges into the Kingdom OF Goo
the abundant life Of love, work
and worship.