Donna,

Your two poems were very remarkable.

You do have multiple talents, for sure.

I particularly liked the one:  Twas the eve Jesus Christ was born.

Until reading your poem, I had never really had stopped to think that before it was over, Mary suffered.

Possibly her water bag had broken and she was already starting contractions when they asked to stay at the inn.

To only hear someone heartlessly deny entry and warmth to a young lady giving birth.

Did that same person, then, also shockingly suggest the stable as a place for her to give birth?

No doubt Joseph would have done all he could to help her lay as comfortably as possible on the hay.

Between contractions, did Mary lock eyes with any of the animals that may have also been in there?

For sure, the female horses, oxen, asses, or sheep, would have understood what was going on.

There may have been a strong sense of compassion, for Mary, coming from them.

Joseph must have assisted in the birth, with the washing, and with the cutting of the cord.

Then Mary swaddled Jesus:

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

How opposite that was from what the LORD described about the birth of Jerusalem:

Ezekiel 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.

Then, when Mary was able to rest more comfortably with her new born baby, unexpected visitors showed up.

Shepherds came to see the baby, and must have explained that angels had directed them to come and see him.

As surprising as that was, then, also, the three wise men from the east showed up, and fell down and worshipped the baby.

Then they gave expensive gifts, and must have explained that a star brought them to the exact spot where the baby was.

btw - about a year ago, I sent in a letter to FiveDoves, where I tried to show why I believed that the wise men came when the shepherds did:

birth of Jesus

and this extra:   reply