You hear people at this time of year stressing the ordinariness of the birth of Christ... but it always strikes me that there was nothing ordinary in his birth... it was special, but not by being "better" rather by being in the midst of more difficult circumstances than the ordinary birth... even then there would have been support, rituals, preparations; wise women, experienced grandparents, care taken about the environment etc. probably some would seem alien to us, just as ours would to them... but they would have had their ordinary procedures.
A birth less ordinary
No ordinary start to a life on earth,
No preparations, no ante-natal rituals, no gradual build-up,
No getting things in order, bag packed, hospital number by the phone,
No nursery decorated, no teddy waiting in the Cot,
No family around, no friends sending flowers,
No midwife popping in, no reassuring experts,
No people who’ve been there, no experience to help,
No warm ward, no birthing suite,
No pool, no gas, no epidural,
No hot water, no towels, no Surgeon on hand,
No sterile safe place,
No friendly face, no familiar place,
No ordinary birth,
No ordinary baby.
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