As if my life isn’t complicated enough already, now this. I’m not sure how much more I can take! Things had better work out soon or it just might push me over the edge. Less than a year ago, I thought my life was finally going in the right direction. Sure, I had my mishaps growing up, I made mistakes, and I was always a little “different”, but people seemed to like me okay. At least, they tolerated me. Then I met this girl…
Oh my! As soon as I met her, my heart was gone. I knew that I had to spend the rest of my life with her. It was all I could do to hold off proposing to her until we had been dating for a reasonable amount of time. Some people don’t consider two months “reasonable”, but I don’t care. When I could no longer wait, I asked her to be my wife. When she said yes, I knew that my life was turning around and that everything was going to be glorious from here on out. God had brought us together, both her parents and mine approved, and the future was looking bright for us. Life was going to be perfect. Boy…was I wrong!
Although being married to the love of my life was wonderful, we faced plenty of challenges. We were very poor, and even though I worked all day in the blistering sun building houses for other people, I barely kept a roof over our heads. I was an outcast and the brunt of many cruel jokes because of the woman I married, especially with her “condition”. I don’t really care, because I love her and I know that God brought us together, but it is hurtful. It pains me that she is also looked down upon and rejected by her peers. But we encourage and comfort each other, and most days that is enough. The absence of *ahem* physical expressions of our love isn’t easy on either of us, but that’s how it must be for now. We were making it okay until this new tax law was issued.
Now, here we are in the village where Dad grew up. He, himself, was a bit of an outcast from his relatives (which is why he moved away before I was born), but my relatives would have nothing at all to do with me and my wife. They wouldn’t even give us a place to spend the night. Thankfully, I found someone who let us sleep in the barn. And wouldn’t you know it? My wife’s “condition” reached the breaking point and I had to help her deliver a baby right there among the animals. I just want to scream!
Thanks be to God, Mary and her baby are fine. They’re resting now. The baby is wrapped up and sleeping in a feed trough. She is lying on some hay next to him. I had to step out into the night. I’m trying to gain my composure and keep it all together, but it’s not working very well. In fact, I’ve spent the last twenty minutes crying like a baby. God, I know that You are with me and that You said I am being used for You, but can this really be Your plan? I feel the tears welling up again, but I have to compose myself. Somebody is coming. Several somebodies, it sounds like. I quickly wipe away my tears and rush to my wife’s side just as a group of shepherds come through the door.
These men are so excited to see us! It took me a while to understand what they were saying, but the oldest of them finally calmed down enough to tell me about their experience. An angel appeared to them and said he had great news. He told them that the Savior had just been born, and that they would find Him here. Apparently, the host of Heaven then appeared to rejoice with the angel. These men came to see the promised Christ, and here He is! My wife has just given birth to the One who would save all of humanity from sin! Maybe things are looking up for me and my family after all…
Joseph had a pretty rough life, with plenty of reasons to complain. He and Mary had a pretty shaky first year of marriage, to say the least! They struggled with many of the same things that you and I face, such as making a living, dealing with family issues, and trying to just fit in with the people around them. They had heartache, governmental interference, and financial difficulties. Their own relationship was tested to the point that only God was able to hold them together. It was tough for them! But through it all, a baby was forming in Mary’s womb – a child whose very existence would change human history. When the time was right, the Reason for all the trials was revealed. God had a plan and purpose all along, and that purpose far outweighed any struggles, heartache, or pain. Whatever you are going through, you can trust that God has a plan and purpose for you, too. When the time is right, you will see that everything happened for a Reason.
May God richly bless you and your family as we all celebrate the Reason for the Season!!!
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