Rubbish I say!

But, I will give you the Magi thing. They’re astrologers who probably had a two year trip to see the child. Unlikely they ever saw Jesus as a baby. AS for the ‘you’re only a youth pastor’ jibe, you’ll get a wedgie for that when I see you next…;)

Baby smells. All the books say it shouldn’t smell bad, but they lie. You don’t know what a foul smell is until you’ve had baby sick, pooh and wee all over you in one go.

I still wouldn’t trade my kids for anything though!

I don’t think it’s “Away in a Manger” aka “Jesus was so perfect he wasn’t human”- it’s celebrating the form of Jesus as a babe. And while babies do scream and cry, I’m sure you remember the cute “awww… he’s asleep” and the quiet times with fondness. (If they are real screamers, then the quiet moments have that extra golden feel)

Check out the lyrics - it doesn’t say- “no crying he makes- ever (duh he’s God incarnate, you know…)” I think it’s talking about a particular time, not in general.

It’s a very reassuring lullaby- you aren’t allowed to diss it, you old scrooge.

And: I’ll let you off the hook this time since you’re a youth pastor and wouldn’t know, but the magi (tradition says three) showed up some time after the birth- the young family were living in a house then (Matthew 2:11). Also: milk fed bubs have less offensive smelling poo and spew, right? Shepherds live with their sheep so wouldn’t grudge a baby a little smell- newborn bub smell at that! The animals would smell worse.

Sure, Jesus came as a real live human, but it wasn’t horrible- it was special.

Because I’m extra good.