Mary gave birth to her son, Jesus, in the stable surrounded by the animals that were housed there.
They had no cradle to put Jesus in nor any clean infant clothes.
For a cradle they used a manger which was used to feed the animals and they wrapped him in strips of cloth to keep him warm.
(Luke 2 verses 4 - 7)
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
your birth at Bethlehem
draws us to kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth:
accept our heartfelt praise
as we worship you,
our Saviour and our eternal God. Amen.