to think someone should have got Mary a chair and some toast?

[divineinspirations]

Watching my first school nativity I couldn't believe poor Mary had to stand up the whole time and be polite to all the shepherds and wise men that kept turning up.
If there was no room for a bed surely someone could have got her a chair at least? And there must be a Judaean equivalent of postnatal tea and toast?

Best thing before sliced bread was frankincense and myrr 😂

Hmmm, having consulted Wikipedia I guess opioid like effects on the brain would go some way to help, but really it sounds like the myrrh arrived 12 hours too late and the lady still deserves a drink and a chair.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I've always (well, rarely and briefly) hoped the Holey Bab came out as easily as he went in 😂 No huffing, puffing, sweating or other messy fluids, just a gentle unworldly breath. And magical crowns of light for all concerned.

😂 ahhh. Like the NCT said it would be if I just relaxed and kept the room dim. Mary really is an inspiration to us all.

😂 @divineinspirations 👏👏

#wifework 😄

That's what the nuns always told us, so it must be right.

“How silently how silently the wondrous gift is given” so an easy labour.

Oh wow, I’ve sung that so many times without ever relating it to childbirth!

Tbh it would be more realistic if Mary gave birth, cleaned up then made everyone a drink.

I'm not sure I'd have trusted any furniture in that stable.

It would all likely be caked up with wee and poo having sat with the animals.

On the plus side, no bed and no chair means that Mary probably wasn't hassled by a Bounty rep 'offering' to take photos of her with the newborn King (and the other three kings, and the shepherds and the angel Gabriel...)

It only took me 40 plus years to realise myself!

It wasn't until I was heavily pregnant in December that I realised just how uncomfortable it must have been for Mary to ride to Bethlehem from Nazareth on a donkey. On a dusty road etc. So bumpy! Ouch ouch ouch.

With all that gold, frankincense, and myrrh, surely she could have afforded top quality post-natal care.

I'm surprised that Joseph, the shepherds, the magi et al, were in the stable at all. It would not be too far fatched (if it isn't already) for them to be in the inn, 'wetting the baby's head'. 🍺🍺🍺🍺

Just how wise were the the three wise men as they went to the wrong place to begin with and look at the trouble that caused

According to early Christians, Mary was still virgo intacta after the birth. So it was clearly pain-free.

I have heard that they were probably staying with extended family. And that the "stable" would have still been part of the living quarters of the family home. How reliable each of these is I don't know, I'm not an expert in living conditions in first century Israel. But if that's correct, then presumably there would have been family members on hand to help look after Mary - so hopefully she got whatever the equivalent of tea and toast was.

What did happen to the gold, frankincense and myrrh? Did they take them with on the flight to Egypt? Were they packing the donkey and complaining about the gifts being impractical?

I think Mary took it really well when the angel reacted to the annoying glittery tinsel round its neck by casting off its white gown. It may not be in the Bible, but we know it happened because it was in our school's nativity play.

Also, if it was pain free, how did she know she was in labour at all? Did Michael or Gabriel invisibly whisper in her ear or something?

She might have wanted photos. It's a one off event and everyone has traveled along way to be there. Took me two days to find the bounty rep to take photos. Got the most amazing photos of dd which are still up in frames at mine and both grandparents houses.

🤯