As soon as the "ber" months arrive in our country, homes begin to sparkle with Christmas lights. A Christmas tree takes center stage in the living room, surrounded by gifts. Children start singing carols around the neighborhood, and Christmas parties are just around the corner. It’s the season to prepare your dance moves for when the bonuses arrive! Reunions with family and long-time friends fill hearts with joy as everyone dances, sings, laughs at old jokes, and reminisces. The atmosphere becomes festive, colorful, and vibrant.
When I was little, I often felt envious of families who decorated their homes with colorful lights. I dreamed of placing a star on top of the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, and enjoying Noche Buena at the dining table while taking family photos. I wished I could be the girl in the neighborhood with a vibrant home, so full of joy during the Christmas season.
Although I had joyful moments during trips to the province, my home back then felt dull, fearful, and often lonely. Christmas felt like just another ordinary day—no surprises, no special dinner, no Christmas tree, no colorful lights, and no family photos. I was often simply grateful for a quiet night, free from conflict, where I could sleep peacefully.
Perhaps some of you can relate. Maybe others don’t have a vibrant home either and let Christmas quietly pass by. Let me take you back to the first Christmas, the one found in the manger, where the animals were fed.
Luke 2:1-7 recounts this moment:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Mary, a young virgin chosen by God to bear His Son through the Holy Spirit, journeyed with Joseph to Bethlehem for the census. Joseph initially doubted Mary’s pregnancy, planning to quietly divorce her to spare her from disgrace. Perhaps there were "Marites" in Nazareth even then, whispering rumors. But when an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and revealed the truth, he humbly submitted to God’s will, courageously accepting Mary and her child—a "walking green flag," as we might say today.
The circumstances surrounding the first Christmas were far from ideal. A controversial pregnancy, the stress of travel, and no proper place to stay—imagine the emotional burden on Mary and Joseph. And yet, in that lowly manger, Mary gave birth to Jesus, wrapping Him in cloths and laying Him in a feeding trough for animals.
Luke’s narrative of the first Christmas is simple: "And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." It’s remarkable how understated this extraordinary event is. No grand descriptions, no flowery words. This moment wasn’t about Mary’s situation or her challenges; it was about Jesus.
Wouldn’t it have been more fitting for the King of Kings to be born in a palace? Yet, Jesus chose humility from the start. By being laid in a manger, He extended an invitation to the most humble among us. He laid aside His glory and took the form of a servant, showing us that even the most despised and ordinary places can be redeemed.
The first Christmas wasn’t about extravagance; it was about redemption. It was simple yet profound. As Mary held Jesus in her arms, she treasured all these moments, pondering them in her heart. It wasn’t the setting or the circumstances that mattered—it was the presence of the Savior.
Without a doubt, many of us can recognize the “manger” in our lives. Perhaps your Christmas isn’t as vibrant as the reels you see on social media. Maybe you’re mourning the loss of a loved one this holiday season. Perhaps you’re working away from your family, striving to provide for their needs. Maybe you’re unemployed and unable to afford a special feast. Perhaps you feel lonely, unmarried, or estranged from family. Or maybe you’re battling illness, confined to a hospital bed. Perhaps you’ve stopped celebrating Christmas altogether, having lost hope or faith.
Don’t worry—there’s room for you.
Come to the manger where Jesus was laid. If your heart feels as wretched as a manger—unworthy, broken, or despised—remember that Jesus was laid in such a place. God used that imperfect setting to bring about His perfect plan. Even in your bleakest moments, God can meet you where you are, just as He revealed Himself to the shepherds in the fields.
This Christmas, may you reflect on the truth that Jesus, the King of Kings, came to offer a life filled with meaning and purpose, even amid suffering. As He rested in the manger, God’s promise was fulfilled: Emmanuel—God with us.
There’s room for you in the manger. Let this Christmas remind you of God’s great love and His ability to bring light to even the darkest places.
