Thoughts:  There are no dearer words.  They are precious to us in their familiarity – their beauty – their promise.
These twenty verses contain history, romance, rejection, and Joy.  Characters include rulers and common people and angels and a baby.
Who knew the baby was coming?  His mother and his earthly father knew.  God and his angels knew.  A few members of the inn’s staff knew. 
And then, nearby shepherds were told by the angel of the Lord, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” 
Apparently taking it for granted that the shepherds would want to go see the Savior, the angels gave rather sketchy directions. 

1. The baby had been born in the city of David. 

1. The baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes. 

1. The baby was lying in a manger, 

The city of David was crowded with taxpayers.  There must have been hundreds of babies and hundreds of mangers.  But the shepherds found the Savior. 

Thoughts: “Have you seen Anna?”
                        “She never leaves the temple.”
                        “Always fasting and praying.”
                        “Poor old soul, she doesn’t’ have any family.”
                        “They say she can predict the future.”
                        “Did you hear how excited she was when that country couple came in with a baby?
                        “She said the baby was the Messiah!”
                        “Yeah, she was going on about this baby’s bringing redemption to Jerusalem.”
                        “Well, you know she never had any children of her own.”
                        “No, she didn’t.  She’s probably lonely.”
                        “And as old as the hills.”
                        “Let’s check out the sale at Micha’s!”
                        ”And then we can have lunch at Zelophehad’s new place.”:
                        “And then we ------