Joseph

     Joseph could not make himself work. There were orders for furniture, yolks, and plows; enough work to keep him busy for days. But, he was too sad to work. The hammer lay heavy in his hand. How could things go so terribly wrong?  His heart was broken.

     He had labored many days with a happy heart knowing Mary would soon be his wife. But now things had changed. He wanted to throw the perfectly crafted chair across the room. He never dreamed that sweet little Mary would be unfaithful to him. Mary had tried to tell him that circumstances had changed. She was pregnant, but still remained a virgin. How could that be? Besides being unfaithful to him, she was giving unreasonable explanations. Now, she had set out over the Judean mountains to visit a cousin who was having a baby. Joseph had never felt so betrayed.

     Mary was going to have a baby, but not his baby. The wedding was off. He would be shamed by the whole neighborhood.

     He knew the penalty for her infidelity. Since they were engaged to be married, he could have her stoned to death or at the least publicly divorced. He could not bring himself to do either. He thought perhaps he would divorce her privately. That would not ease the pain in his heart, but perhaps it would not bring as much shame on Mary.

     Joseph slumped onto a stool in the carpenter’s shop, his head in his hands, his life completely destroyed. His weary body fell across the carpenter’s bench and he fell into a fitful sleep thinking of the decisions he had to make concerning Mary. Dreaming of problems he couldn’t solve and promises he couldn’t keep.

     Suddenly, before him stood a gorgeous being, an angel, with an important message for him. “Do not hesitate to take Mary for your wife. She has not been unfaithful to you. The baby growing inside her is the Son of God. Take Mary into your own home and when the baby boy is born, name him Jesus, for he shall save His people from their sins.”

     Then Joseph awoke from his sleep to do what the angel told him. Without delay, the wedding was arranged and Joseph eagerly awaited Mary’s return from over the Galilean hills. They were married and Joseph took Mary into his own home.  

     There was much whispering and gossip about their marriage, but Mary and Joseph were happy knowing they were doing God’s will.