No Room At The Inn

by
Listen to this devotional:
 Listen while you read: "Christians Awake"1  (Lyrics)

When Mary, one of our readers, read a PresbyCan devotional about arriving at a hotel and finding it full, she was reminded of an event that happened to her family in 1983.

    We were travelling from Kingston to Exeter, Ontario, Canada, on December 24th with our three young children to spend Christmas with my parents.

    The weather was beautiful. Suddenly, near Punkydoodles Corners, between New Hamburg and Tavistock, we encountered a terrible snowstorm.

    It was so sudden that we thought that a farmer was blowing out his driveway. We finally reached the small town of Tavistock and were informed that we could not continue. All the roads had been closed.

    This was early afternoon. We called my parents and told them of our situation. They advised us to stay put because the weather around Exeter was awful. Well, we discovered that there was a hotel in the middle of town. Great! We could get a room there. But we soon found out that this was not possible. All the rooms were booked.

    Yes, no room at the inn.

    We were told that we could remain in the lounge for as long as necessary. This was great news. But it got better. An older couple in town heard about our situation and offered us lodging. All five of us were wined and dined. We enjoyed a fabulous Christmas dinner which was intended for their kids, who could not get home either. In the morning, we were all served a delicious breakfast.

    Yes, there was no room at the inn, but God provided, and He provided in abundance.

Without the generosity and hospitality of someone who offered Mary and Joseph a place to stay so that their Baby, Who was to be born in Bethlehem, could be wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger, the Christmas story as we know it could not have happened.

Luke 2:6-7 – While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (NIV)

Let us be especially vigilant this Christmas season for those whom God may put in our path to whom we may show hospitality.

Hebrews 13:2 – Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! (NLT)

Prayer: Lord, You have showered us with love and care, sheltering us all our lives. Show us those to whom we can pass on Your favour. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author:

Robin Ross <rross@telus.net>
Mission, British Columbia, Canada
Send your feedback to the author

3 thoughts on “No Room At The Inn”

  3. Great story. Thanks for sharing.

    Amen, Robin. Have a Merry Christmas.

    A very interesting one. Thanks for sharing.

    Thanks, Robin. I love that story and your reminder.

    Amen! Wonderful, encouraging story.
    Merry Christmas Robin.

    Merry Christmas Robin.
    I pray the Lord will continue to bless you.

    Good morning, Robin. A lovely read from you today.
    Thanks for reminding us of our many Blessings.
    Merry Christmas, to you and your Family.

    Good afternoon, Robin,
    Thank you for the good devotional this morning. Thank you.
    May all be well with you and yours.

    Good one. Thank you. What a story in your family’s history book.
    Enjoying summer driving conditions! Merry Christmas.
    (Manitoba)

    Merry Christmas Robin,
    I always think whoever named Punkydoodles Corners must have had a good laugh when that name stuck. It’s still there.

    Thank you for sharing these beautiful accounts of hospitality and generosity. More than any other time we should care for those in need. Merry Christmas and thank you for touching lives for Jesus.

    What a beautiful story!
    So many good people around us.
    News usually bring us the bad and the ugly.
    Thanks for sharing.

    What a story! Thank you so much for this, as well as your faithfulness in bringing the Daily Devotional to the PCC website for so many years.
    Wishing you and your family a “renewal” in the Spirit of Christmas!

    I really liked this devotional and was touched deeply by it. I am praying to be more mindful and aware of “Inn Keeper” opportunities that Father God may want to present to me and especially around this special time of year Christmas. Thank you, Robin.

    Merry Christmas Robin
    Thank you for this beautiful event. God has a way of showing His love in so many ways!! I used to live near Tavistock.
    God bless.

    Thanks for a great message, Robin! You shared a great memory to encourage us to be welcoming and hospitable.
    May this Christmas be a time of blessing for you and your family.
    (ON)

    Thank you, Robin!
    This is a beautiful reminder to us to keep our eyes open and to extend kindness and hospitality to others whenever possible.
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

    Thanks for sharing that story about the family who found a place to stay when the weather conditions were bad. Yes, it is important that we find ways to reach out to people in need and show them compassion and generosity.
    Blessings for writing.

    Good morning,
    What a great devotion. My husband and I grew up in Wingham Ont. and we know Exeter well.
    The idea of a miracle of hosting a family at Christmas time during a storm stay is a
    wonderful reminder of Jesus’s birth in a manger.
    Kindness towards strangers can be remembered because of your devotion.
    Thank you.
    (Ontario)

    Dear Robin,
    First of all, thank you for all you do for PresbyCan and its followers. I am uplifted every day and have been a reader and prayer partner for quite a while. I especially need it now as my husband has just recently and unexpectedly died of a heart attack.
    Thank you so much for today’s offering…both interesting and inspiring!
    Christmas Blessings, Joy, Peace, Comfort, and Gratitude.

    Dear Robin:
    I can relate to your story. I use to commute on a weekly basis between Toronto and that area. The risk and severity of snowstorms was incredible. Now, I never was stopped like you were, but I had some close calls. Perth County can be a snowy place!
    Your story really does illustrate the goodwill of the Christmas season and how strangers are often welcomed when circumstances turn against them.
    Merry Christmas to you and your family.
    (Ont)

    Dear Robin, I am so happy to be able to not only thank you for your beautiful story and how God provides, but also to thank you for your fidelity to the Devotionals.
    I am trying to remember when I started listening to them. It must be at least 20 years.
    I want you to take this as a Christmas present from God, because you have been instrumental in my life just by the sound of your voice and your steadfastness. It has helped me over the year to stay the course, to stay in the race.
    Sometimes I was so low, it was the sound of the steadiness of your voice, that gave me the courage and strength to keep the faith and keep on going.
    I love the Lord with all my heart and over the years the daily emails have been a blessing for me.
    May God bless you my dear brother Robin for your YES.
    How many years has it been?
    Merry Christmas!
    (Québec)

    Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. To God be the glory for His wonderful provision. Blessings.

    We use to live near Tavistock for several years and traveled through Punkydoodles Corners on a regular basis. Weather in Oxford County is very different than Perth county. Blessings Robin and Merry Christmas.

    Thank you, Robin, for such a delightful story. I am well aware of the area as my husband was the Presbyterian minister in the area for about eight years. Hospitality is a wonderful gift!

    Robin, thank you for not only this contribution of your excellent writing, but also for the long devotion and care for PresbyCan. You provide an open door to so many readers and writers with a goal to be an encouragement to us all.

    But there was no room in the inn – Mary gave birth in a stable, not a warm hotel room with breakfast. When Herod learned of the birth of the King of the Jews in Bethlehem, he ordered all baby boys up to two years killed. Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus fled to Egypt where they lived as refugees until Herod died.

    Dear Robin,
    What a wonderful Devotional today. It sure was a Christmas miracle, one you will never forget.
    Have a blessed Christmas.
    Keep the Devotionals coming.
    (Ont.)

Leave a comment