A friend of mine sent this interesting little tidbit to me that really says it all:<P>Have you ever wondered about "swaddling clothes"?<P>Everyone knows that Jesus was born in a manger, and the 2nd chapter of the gospel of Luke says that he was wrapped in "swaddling clothes" and laid in a manger.<P>In fact, even hospitals today use a cloth that they call a "swaddling" cloth. Unfortunately, it's a misnomer that will soon be over 2,000 years old, because "swaddling clothes" have nothing to do with a child being born!<P>In the Middle East, people traveling long distances were often met with many hardships and trials on their journeys. In the event of a death in travel, the body could not continue to be transported for many days. <P>For that reason, travelers wrapped a thin, gauzelike cloth around their waist many times. If someone died on the journey, the others would use this cloth, referred to as "swaddling clothes" to wrap the corpse in before burying them.<P>When Jesus was born, there was no room in the inn, and so Mary and Joseph used a nearby stable for Jesus' birth. With no other cloth to use, Jesus was wrapped in Joseph's "swaddling clothes" - the cloth normally reserved for a person's death. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords came into this world in a lowly manger and was wrapped with burial clothes - in truth, He was born to die. To die for the sins of all mankind.<P>

Karenna, Thanks for sharing this.<P>I had never heard it before and what an insight! Thanks for sharing with us!<P>I hope the holidays are blessed for you and yours!<P>HM

Karenna,<P>Thanks for sharing this. I too had never heard this. Wow it always amazes me to learn the neat paradoxes through which God brings forth His greatest miracles.<P>