A teenaged girl and her boyfriend are all alone travelling miles away from home. They don't have a car, only one donkey who can't carry them both. They walk/ride for miles upon miles. Feeling the rhythmic movement of the animal beneath her the girl, nine months pregnant, begins to feel pains that she doesn't understand. She tells her boyfriend that they need to stop, but he insists that they press on. This took place at a time when there wasn't health class at the public high school to teach kids about anatomy, sex, and childbirth. The lights of the city begin to come into view when all of a sudden a gush of fluid... Mary is scared. The pains are coming harder now and lasting longer. Joseph, whose legs hurt and blisters are forming on his feet, tries to walk faster. He doesn't know what to do with Mary. He wants to comfort her, but doesn't know how. He thinks "If I can just get her to Bethlehem, we will find someone who will know what to do." But when they finally arrive in the city, it is late and most people have gone to bed. Joseph sees an inn and figures if he can get Mary to lie down maybe, just maybe, the baby will wait until morning. He tells Mary to wait outside so she doesn't have to climb down. He goes in and asks for a room. The clerk says he doesn't have an empty room. He suggests that Joseph try the inn down the road. After approaching numerous clerks begging for a room, Mary begins to feel pressure along with the pains, which are now very intense. Joseph, fighting the tears, trying to stay calm for Mary's sake, tells the clerk that the baby is coming now and he needs help. The clerk says "There are no rooms, but I suppose you can go in the barn. There is some hay in there for your donkey. I'm sorry, but that's all I have to offer." Out of options, they agree. This is not at all how Mary had envisioned giving birth to her first child. Joseph led the donkey into the barn and helped Mary down. He tried to help her get comfortable, but the pain was almost unbearable and the hay stabbed her with every move. Joseph offered Mary some water from the canteen. Both scared and nervous, neither knew what to do, but following their instincts, Joseph delivered the baby. Mary held the baby against her skin and wrapped her clothing tightly around him as she nursed her son for the first time. Although Joseph was exhausted from the long trip, he took the lantern and searched the barn for anything that might be useful. He found an old trough. He moved it over by Mary, filled it with hay and shaped the hay to conform to the baby. He, then, fed the donkey and gave him water before he sat down by Mary's side. Mary had been crying silently. She was overwhelmed with love for little boy that she had just brought into the world. Joseph wiped the tears from her cheeks and began to pray out loud. An angel appeared to comfort them. Later, in the middle of the night, strangers began to arrive at the door of the barn--shepherds and wisemen bearing gifts for the Newborn King.
So many times we get caught up in all of the "requirements" of the Christmas season: shopping, decorating, wrapping, parties, and for some depression, feelings of worthlessness, and missing loved ones. Let us remember and share the details of this story--the only thing that really matters!
Merry Christmas!
I selected this picture because all of the other ones I found had Joseph and Mary looking old. I also love the looks on their faces in this one. Poor Joseph looks like he's thinking, "What do we do with him?"
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