“A Mary and Joseph Perspective”
Twas a few nights before Christmas and all through my house, not a gremlin was stirring whew, let’s praise Him for that!
The stockings were hung by my China cabinet with care and the stress of moving that elf would soon disappear.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of Christmas break adventures danced in their head.
Mama was making a long list of food to prepare, while ole dad slept blissfully unaware.
My amateur twist on this Christmas classic makes me snicker as it holds too much truth about our household this week! This season can bring a whirlwind of to do lists and if we’re not careful, it’ll swipe intentional moments The Lord intends for our good…
I have to admit, all of the things listed in the poem above had cluttered my mind lately. I deeply love and know the true meaning of Christmas; but the beautiful story of His birth was prancing past my heart and the busyness of this world was landing on my shoulders. Recently, my rotation in the children’s ministry had circled around again. Shooing our gremlins out the door I rushed into the classroom to quickly review the lesson…Jesus’ birth…. shocker. The cartoon Bible characters acted out the familiar story, but mentioned something profound…. how much of an inconvenience the trip to Bethlehem was for Mary and Joseph. Wow, I have never thought of it like that, an inconvenience. I knew a census had been ordered and people were required to travel, but to consider Mary and Joseph’s mindset when they realized the timing and distance ahead of them gave a different perspective.
Let’s consider a comparison for today’s time. Imagine yourself 9 months pregnant counting the days until delivery when your husband informs you of a road trip you must take to the Passport office. He also informs you to pack a lunch, the lines will be crazy long and he’s considering the motorcycle because the car isn’t reliable. Your thoughts are yelling, “Are you kidding me? Why now?!” As you arrive at the destination, your husband says, “honey, I’m sorry, the hotels are booked, we’ll need to find a place to sleep.”
It's easy to skim over the familiar details of Mary and Joseph’s story because we’ve heard them so many times, but when we pause to put ourselves in their sandals it brings a relatable perspective. Life is filled with inconveniences that seem to make no sense at that moment. Children become sick in the middle of a busy work week, family members get their feelings hurt when it was never intended, and schedules seem to stay hectic. The list rolls on of life’s unexpected challenges, but one thing over arches all of them…. God’s detailed plan. God knew this inconvenience would be the background to a beautiful story that would stand the test of time, the birth of His only Son, Jesus. In the still of the night, quietly and gracefully, Jesus would enter a world of chaos and doubt to bring peace and hope.
Mary and Joseph knew God would provide for the gift He had given them, but I bet it’s safe to say they had some doubts. What felt like such an inconvenience became an intentional moment that led to God’s plan being fulfilled.
This Christmas and New Year take a moment to remember Who God is, faithful, never forgetful, always present, all knowing and true; and when life becomes filled with inconveniences, picture Mary and Joseph. Their story reminds us God has a purpose in everything and we see it when we have a different perspective. Merry Christmas!
