As the Innkeeper’s Wife      June Shaughnessy

-In those days, a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  All went to their own towns to be registered.  A man and woman from the town of Nazareth in Galilee came to Judea and our city of David called Bethlehem because he was descended from the house and family of David.  He came to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  While they were there, her time to deliver her child was upon her!  She was so in need of a room, which we did not have because of the large number of people there to be registered.  I knew she needed help immediately, so I informed the man that all we had was a stable.  I thought that she could be made comfortable and safe there.  He agreed and they went to make their beds.  That night, she gave birth to her firstborn—a son!  She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in the manger.  I knew the moment I saw her that she was special…that the gift she would give the world was special!  We women know these things!