“…Death has been swallowed up by a victory. Where is your victory, Death? Where is your sting, Death?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55, CEB).

     I can’t help but wonder if this passage was one of the Apostle Paul’s favorites. Paul spoke of the “thorn in the flesh” from which he suffered mightily. No one knows the particular malady with which Paul struggled. Some have suggested that Paul was blind. Others claim that he endured debilitating seizures.

“While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room” (Luke 2:6-7, NRSV).

     Over the years, the innkeeper’s reputation has taken a beating. He has been viewed as a heartless businessman who was more interested in making money than helping a poor family in need. Personally, I believe the innkeeper has been given a bad rap. The reality may be that the innkeeper was a rather gracious person.

“My people are determined to turn from me…[yet] how can I give you up?” (Hosea 11:7-8, NIV).

     I grew up with a wiener dog named Frank. (An ironic name, don’t you think?) In his younger days, Frank liked to run away from home. Being the oldest child, I was tasked with catching him. I grew tired of Frank’s departures to the point that I threw up my hands in disgust and shouted, “Good riddance!” A very wise neighbor overheard my exclamation and asked me why I was so upset. I told Mr. Hannus that I never wanted to see that ungrateful dog, again. To which he replied, “Son, you don’t stop loving someone just because they lack the sense to love you back.”

“By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”    (1 Peter 1:3, NRSV).