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. ~ Luke 2:7

No Vacancy or Maximum Capacity would be accurate signs and appropriate decor for our home this Christmas season. Our family of four has temporarily grown as we’ve made accommodations for our oldest, Cammie, and our grandson, Gavin until Cammie deploys this upcoming year. Most weekends and holidays our unofficially adopted daughter, Katie, is here rooming with Courtney. And as many families often do during the holidays, we’ll open our humble home to some of our closest and dearest friends at the end of the year when they come to visit.

Making room for Cammie and Gavin has meant great sacrifice for all of us. We’ve shuffled from room to room, making sleeping arrangements according to Gavin’s visits with his dad. Too close for comfort at times, we’ve had our share of meltdowns and near breakdowns. But we’re family. And though it would’ve been easy to announce no room during this season of life, we chose to make room. After all, our Girl will be gone for one year. So as she prepares to lodge toward Afghanistan, we prepare one day at a time to make room in our home and room in our hearts.

As I’ve reflected on our current situation, I’ve thought of those lodging toward Bethelehem that first Christmas long ago. Lacking the traveling comforts of today, this commute must’ve taken its toll on Mary. Our Savior’s birth was nigh yet the message to Mary and Joseph was no room!

No room for a Savior.

His lowly birth was the fulfillment of prophecy. The King of Kings was born in a stable among animals, laid in a manger. No pomp and circumstance. No room in the inn. No room in the hearts of men. In the most unlikely of places, among the stench, among the traveling masses, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. In a manger, God made a Way.

And though He was crowded out by many, in the hearts of humble shepherds was humble adoration. Room for a Savior.

Over two thousand years later we are still crowding Him out. We deck our halls and trim our trees and set our ringtones to fa la la la la. But do we join the heavenly host in singing His praise? We make our lists and check them twice; we give our gifts when we cannot afford the price. But have we made room for Him?

There’s sacrifice in making room. Our family surrendered space and traded time. The crowding and the noise has stretched us, caused us to grow in more than just number. Yet we’ve gained a season of memories. But unless we’ve made room for our Savior this Christmas season, our memories will lack and not likely bring the joy that is needed to carry us through the upcoming year. We’ll have to sacrifice.

Will you sacrifice your expectations this year? Will you let go of sorrow, surrender your plans, your preconceived notions of what this Christmas will bring? Make room for Him. In Him is everything we need.

Let Him turn your lack into plenty and fill your despair with hope. Let’s open our heart’s with humble adoration. Let’s make room for Him.

If we get caught up in the presents, we just might miss His Presence.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

~ Luke 2:14