Humble, ordinary things can be very holy, very full of God. . . .

While angels were singing for the shepherds, (Mary) was sweating and straining in the darkness and discomfort of a stable. . .Her mind could hardly have been filled with pure exulting.  It was a baby, a human baby, helpless and squalling, that she must attend to.  She was the "handmaid of the Lord," carrying out her task in pain and squalor, neither seeing (so far as we know) the glory of the Lord nor hearing the angels' song.