What a busy time!

Inn, who stood nearby, was swarming with travelers. On our sleepy street, this was something of a novelty. 

The two-legs were on the move.

Meanwhile, inside my warm interior, things were beginning to feel more cramped as well. The four-legs who carried the two-legs on their journeys were sheltering with our usual company. I could sense their anxiety of the new place and did my best to keep them warm and safe.

As the four-legs were brought to me, I heard snatches of conversation with words I did not understand. Census. Caesar. That one was mentioned often. Whatever the words meant, it seemed clear to me that they were the reason the two-legs were seemingly multiplying.

One evening, it was late and the four-legs were settling down to sleep, quiet at last.

Suddenly I heard voices. More like murmurs. Yet another group of two-legs passing by.

I didn’t think much of it until they stopped at my gate, and I felt a hand working the latch.

What was going on?

The two-leg who sheltered in Inn was leading two others, one of whom had a very large belly. At least, I think that’s what you call it.

Apologetically, the Inn two-leg offered my interior to these two.

I was shocked. I’d never had two-legs as guests. Sure, the occasional one to care for the four-legs, but never just because they needed a place to sleep. Even more than this, I know how much my friend, Inn, values hospitality. If he didn’t have room, things must have been very full. He would be devastated to turn anyone away.

I felt the four-legs stir uncertainly as the pair moved in and began to settle. The one with the belly began to moan. 

Something was wrong. It went on for hours. I’d heard the four-legs sound like this but never a two-leg.

Then suddenly, it was over.

I heard a soft coo.

And then the most wondrous thing happened. I felt myself filled with the sweetest presence. Peace, I think it’s called.

Something incredible had transpired. Somehow, I just knew that the coo was connected to a significant two-leg. A brand new, fragile two-leg. 

The realization that something so significant had happened with me as the shelter made me feel self-conscious. I would have tried to clean up and prepare better had I known! 

As if in answer, I felt a bright light shine on my roof. It warmed me much as the sweet presence inside had. 

I’d seen lights like this in the sky, but never this stunning. It was hanging above where I stood and gave me courage. My worries about having not prepared vanished. The new bright light above would be my decoration. 

My light would later bring excited two-legs who tended the fluffy, four-legs. Sheep, I think. Other exotic two-legs came, with sparkling jewels and gifts for the new, and rapidly-growing two-leg. Baby. Jesus. King. Those words were said often.

Through it all, I stood proudly, knowing that little me was given the gift of being the scene of one of the most significant events in history. I learned later that the baby went on to become the Savior of the world. He came in humble, little me and died a humiliating death. Remarkably, He rose again to defeat death.

His story is incredible. And the event that happened with me as the shelter when He was born? They later called it Christmas. 

Over time, Christmas had many pieces added to it, decorations included, but I’ll never forget:

My light, star, they called it, was the first real Christmas light ever hung.