I can never get beyond the fact that the first people to whom God chose to announce the birth of his son where shepherds. Not kings. Not wealthy businessmen. Not princesses or priests. Ordinary, dirty, smelly, shepherds.
Blue collar, these herders possessed neither power or education. They lived away from polite society. They had nothing to give Jesus. Which is perhaps the point.
Of many lessons we can draw from the story found in Luke chapter two, the most compelling to me is the reminder that everyone, even the lowliest in our estimation, remains valuable to God, including those magnificent shepherds.
The Lord chose to first announce the greatest birth in all history, the birth of our Savior, to people on the bottom rung of society. Something for us to ponder during the busy rush of consumption this time of year.
I'd love to hear your thoughts...