The Inn Keeper

At the church Christmas pageant, some of the kindergarten students are selected for the “main” roles in the pageant. Will was selected to be the inn keeper.  Initially, Matt and I were actually hesitant to tell him because we assumed he would want one of the more glamorous roles, like Joseph or the Angel Gabriel.  Our fears weren’t far from the truth because when I told him that afternoon after school, his initial reaction was to be upset. He didn’t want to be the inn keeper because “the inn keeper was mean to Baby Jesus and he didn’t want to be mean to Baby Jesus.”

A few days later he told us that he didn’t mind being the inn keeper at all because really the inn keeper was one of the nicest people.  He wasn’t being mean to Mary and Joseph when he told them there was no room in the inn; he was just being truthful.  He also told us that the inn keeper offered up the next best thing he had, which was a warm stable, that had a roof and fresh hay to keep them warm….that the inn keeper was doing the “best he can.”

Isn’t that what we should all be striving for in this world amidst all the noise and sadness and chaos? And the joy and happiness?  Doing the best we can with what we have been given.