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"... the role that Joseph played was strategically important. If he had disobeyed the angel’s command to take Mary as his wife (Matt. 1:20), he would have, from a human perspective, put the entire mission of Jesus at risk."

"Taking Mary as his wife was a risky assignment. Public perception that he was the baby’s father put him in serious violation of Jewish law and made him a public disgrace."

"Yet today all of us are thankful that he was willing to risk his reputation to participate in and facilitate God’s unfolding drama."

A Difficult Season

This is a most difficult season,
We've traveled a distance this year.
I'm growing increasingly worried,
My dear wife and I are in fear.

Our journey has been quite a hard one,
And others have passed us in haste,
If we are to find some comfort,
We haven't a moment to waste.

But she could give birth any minute,
This motion is not a good thing.
We'll need to rest long when we get there,
And we'll need all the coin we can bring.

This traveling back to my hometown,
Means that I and my child will share,
This place of birth and our kinship,
With others who dwell about there.

The town is decidedly crowded,
There's not a room to be had.
The innkeeper lets us take shelter,
In a stable nearby. It's not bad.

The earthy smells are a comfort,
Somewhat like a scent of new wood,
As a carpenter, I know I'll rest easy,
If my wife will agree that it's good.

I would think it could be a bit festive,
With a pine bough to sweeten the air,
And a candle or lamp, to keep out the night damp,
But I sit on the straw and just stare.

For beyond the smoke of our camp-fires,
I can see a bright star in the sky,
The heavens may have their works revealed,
But I cannot spare them my eye.

For my wife is finding comfort,
In the straw of our rude little space,
And so, like it or not, I'm preparing,
To welcome our child in this place.

So a food trough becomes a first cradle,
As he comfortably makes it his own,
All swaddled about, with his face shining out,
He can reign like a king on his throne.

When I get to a place I can work at,
I'll make a good cradle, and sound,
A carpenter's son shouldn't have to accept,
Some rough sticks in a bad part of town.

NicknamedBob . . . . . . December 16, 2008