And they shall call His name Emmanuel--which, being translated, means, God with us. (Matt. 1:23 AMPL)

The new manger and "babe" lay mute in the midst of the choir room. Members of the Christmas musical stood about admiring it till one asked Pastor, "What do you see in the manger?" His answer wasn't "the baby Jesus." He said, "I see hay. Hay--like us. We are the hay in the manger, His comfort and support here on earth." I gasped.

I remembered playing as a child in Grandfather's haymow, feeling the harsh prickliness along with the give when we jumped in it. Hay wouldn't be a first choice on which to lay our heads. Now Pastor says I am like that raspy stuff for God? I knew I often felt like hay, all stubbly and rough. God using me despite my faults seemed a haymow high problem. Does He want my support anyway, me as a resting place for His use, a means by which He reaches out to others? Does He want me as He wanted hay for an earthly manger bed for His Son?

The thought demanded my acceptance. If God could put Jesus in a scratchy bed of hay as a baby, then He could put His Spirit in "scratchy" me for His loving use now. The symbolism fit.

PRAYER: Father, help me to trust Your use of me in all circumstances, for all people for Your purposes. May I always be ready to be used in Your service in any way.