A baby is born

My friend in Alabama just had a baby. I mean, just a few minutes ago. Even though the birth occurred less than 10 minutes ago, her friends all around the world already have the pictures and the minute-by-minute details thanks to the technology of Facebook. And, of course, the fact that she was having a girl wasn’t news at all. Because of a clear sonogram, we’ve all known that for months.  
They’ve even been calling her by name saying things like, “We can’t wait for Ashley to get here and see our Christmas tree.” “Here’s what Aunt Claire bought for Ashley while she was in Scotland.” Former generations were not so open about babies coming. My mom didn’t even know her mom was having a baby until someone walked in carrying her baby sister. Times have changed, haven’t they?
 We live in a fast-paced world of information. Hundreds of people just read that my Alabama friend had a flawless epidural procedure and only had to push five times to welcome Ashley to the world. I don’t know. I was fine without knowing how many times she pushed. Truthfully, I never see the need for the word “epidural” or “pushed” in a baby announcement. I’m just funny that way.  
But I must get with the times. It shouldn’t surprise me that they provided the birthing details. Members of the younger generation are big on sharing personal information. I mean, most of my 20-something friends post pictures on Facebook of the food they eat. The caption will read something like, “Doesn’t this burger from Bill’s Burger Barn look delicious?” Well, yeah, it does look delicious. But the knowledge that you ate a giant burger in Tulsa today hasn’t changed my life or anything.
But as Christmas Day approaches, I’m carried back to a place and time where something life changing did occur. If someone had been writing a Facebook post that day, it would have read something like: “Mary just gave birth to a healthy baby boy in a barn-like structure on the outskirts of Bethlehem.”  Doesn’t seem very exciting at first glance, does it? Actually, it seems pretty ordinary. The only thing even remotely unusual was that the poor girl had to give birth surrounded by smelly animals and donkey dung. I’m sure most people felt sorry for such a common woman having a common little baby in such difficult surroundings. Clearly, none of the parties involved were of noble birth or the circumstances would have been vastly different.
But that’s where observers would have been wrong. The baby born that day was anything but common. His coming is one of the most historically significant events in all of human history. His coming has changed the lives of millions of people, including mine.  
Isaiah 9:6 describes him this way: “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, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Messiah. Redeemer. God in the flesh. He would do what no one else could do. He would save His people. Technology 2000 years ago was nothing like it is now. But it didn’t matter. God had sent His only son ... and He definitely got the word out.
For more information about Lisa Smartt, visit her website, lisasmartt.com.

Published in The Messenger 12.21.11

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