Christmas Eve
Not yours or mine but the Christmas Eve from Joseph's perspective !
It started out like no other! You see Joseph was required by the government to go home. He was not going home for the holidays; but rather, he was forced by the government to go home to be counted. He needed to take his "bride to be " , home. Not really his home; but, hometown. Yet , he was not going home to visit his family. He was merely following the orders of his government. His family really didn't like him at the time; because, he choose to keep Mary around. You know her, the mother of someone "else's" child.
So with the government demanding that he travel 10 miles or so with a pregnant wife to be, he sets out on the journey. Please remember , that he did not prearrange his destination plans. No Hotels.com, No Travelocity, hek, he didn't even have Avis or Amtrack. He just had a path in front of him and one very pregnant girlfriend! Now, the path must have been crowded and dirty; full of people basically going about the same thing as he. So much hustle and bustle! Not a whole lot of Christmas cheer!. Remember, that he has that pregnant girlfriend. She riding on a donkey, she needs so many breaks. So much time is lost that he just can't get to Jerusalem with much chance of getting a room. What to do? what to do? It is late, and all the innkeepers are full up and frankly , they got nothing. However, in a glimpse of hope and the rush of delivery, they push aside the animals of the barn and give birth to a son. What a day? Joseph , first walks, 10 miles, finds no accommodations and then has to help give birth to someone else's baby! He probably never did this before. You see this was a "woman thing" . Mary's mom wasn't around to help. No midwife tagged along for the journey! Joseph, was not just there to coach Mary through the delivery; he was the doctor of the day! However, being the good carpenter , I am sure he had a knife. You know, to cut the umbilical cord.
Now what? He has this child in his arms. One that he has been told is God, his savior, and the Savior of the world. Once again he has got nothing. But, he wraps the little baby in the rags that he has probably just ripped from his robe and places him down in a feeding trough. You gotta love him. He makes do with what is available. But, what a day! Forced to travel, messed with a donkey, cared for his pregnant girlfriend, argued with innkeepers, moved in with the animals, smelled the poop, delivered a baby, now finally the day is over. A little sleep............?
No it is Christmas Day and Visitors are coming !!!!
Thank you for allowing me to take some liberty with the True Christmas Story (below) and please do not hold against me any punctuation errors, etc. It is three in the morning on Christmas Eve.
May God Bless you and your family. Enjoy, the God who came to Earth.
\Actual Story from Luke.
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah,the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
