Wrapped in Swaddling Clothing

Luke 2:7 

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was not room for them in the inn.

Various lovely images of Mary with the Christ child.

The week before Christmas we went to church with my folks in Logan.  During Relief Society Sister Henderson shared some insights onto the concept of "swaddling clothes" that I found absolutely beautiful.  She taught that in Jewish tradition, a long piece of fabric was wrapped around the hands of the bride and groom on their wedding day symbolizing that the two were now bound together eternally.  The bride then saved that cloth and began to embroider the two ends with mirror images until the stitching met in the middle symbolizing the lives of the husband and wife becoming one.  That fabric or "swaddling clothes" was then saved for the arrival of their first child which was wrapped tightly in this marriage cloth to symbolize that the child was now bound to their parents eternally as well.  I can't remember the details, but apparently this ceremony was also recognized by Jewish law as declaring a child as a legitament heir.  So when Luke records that Mary brought forth her newborn son and "wrapped him in swaddling clothes" this means that Joseph was taking full responsibility for this child before God and the law.  As we read these lines during our annual nativity on Christmas Eve, I felt an increased sense of appreciation for Christ's earthly parents and their sacred callings as the protectors and nurturers of the King of Kings.