From an early age, my dad taught us to work with wood. It is a talent that had been passed on to him from many generations before him. He was always puttering with something, building something, designing something. My mom also always has her hands busy. Her talents lay with sewing, knitting, and baking. My family is working class for which I am thankful. They passed on the talents of building and making things. They passed on a strong work ethic and creativity.

It amazes me that the King of kings and Lord of lords came as a commoner like us. He could have chosen to be born into a rich family or a socially prominent family. But, He chose to be born into a carpenter’s family. He chose to be one of us a commoner, when He is anything but common.

Mark 6:3, “³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.”

I stand amazed.

It reminds me that the angels didn’t announce His birth to the palace, but to the lowly shepherds. Do you realize what this means? Jesus loves us, the common and lowly. He wants us to share His love as the shepherds shared the news the next day.

Wow. He came down to live as a carpenter; His birth was announced to the shepherds. He loves the commoners like us! May we have that awe, the awe of the common and lowly shepherds, as we think about our Savior, our Jesus!