Ah, Joseph....we often pay little attention to him. I, being a female and a mother, relate more to Mary and how she must have felt but just as dads sometimes today are under-recognized, I think sometimes that Joseph was also.
I think about Joseph as he probably led that donkey into Bethlehem. I don't recall the scriptures talking about a donkey but surely they had one. I wonder, too, about the huge responsibility he must have felt for Mary and the baby. Joseph was probably not a lot different from dads today. Joseph truly showed us how to step up to the plate as one might say.
Being a child who was "raised in sawdust" as my dad was a carpenter, I can see Jesus as he grew and might have been right with Joseph in that carpenter's shop, building as I often did, bridges with blocks and such. All of that is left to our own imaginings and really, I guess, not so important.
As I consider Joseph and Mary, I wish today I could have that kind of faith....that kind of assurance and trust in knowing that what I don't understand, my heavenly Father does. And I can trust Him. He has promised to provide just as the provisions were made that silent, holy night so long long ago.
As Bethlehem was the site of such a miracle in the quiet of the night, I will my heart to be still in the quiet of my life and give God thanks and glory for sharing HIS son with me and all of you.
I will end thoughts on Joseph with lyrics from one of my most loved season songs. It's titled simply, "Joseph's Song" and speaks to my heart every single time I hear it.
How could it be this baby in my arms
Sleeping now, so peacefully
The Son of God, the angel said
How could it be
Lord I know He's not my own
Not of my flesh, not of my bone
Still Father let this baby be
The son of my love
Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king, How can I raise a king?
He looks so small, His face and hands so fair
And when He cries the sun just seems to disappear
But when He laughs it shines again
How could it be....
Amen!
I think about Joseph as he probably led that donkey into Bethlehem. I don't recall the scriptures talking about a donkey but surely they had one. I wonder, too, about the huge responsibility he must have felt for Mary and the baby. Joseph was probably not a lot different from dads today. Joseph truly showed us how to step up to the plate as one might say.
Being a child who was "raised in sawdust" as my dad was a carpenter, I can see Jesus as he grew and might have been right with Joseph in that carpenter's shop, building as I often did, bridges with blocks and such. All of that is left to our own imaginings and really, I guess, not so important.
As I consider Joseph and Mary, I wish today I could have that kind of faith....that kind of assurance and trust in knowing that what I don't understand, my heavenly Father does. And I can trust Him. He has promised to provide just as the provisions were made that silent, holy night so long long ago.
As Bethlehem was the site of such a miracle in the quiet of the night, I will my heart to be still in the quiet of my life and give God thanks and glory for sharing HIS son with me and all of you.
I will end thoughts on Joseph with lyrics from one of my most loved season songs. It's titled simply, "Joseph's Song" and speaks to my heart every single time I hear it.
How could it be this baby in my arms
Sleeping now, so peacefully
The Son of God, the angel said
How could it be
Lord I know He's not my own
Not of my flesh, not of my bone
Still Father let this baby be
The son of my love
Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king, How can I raise a king?
He looks so small, His face and hands so fair
And when He cries the sun just seems to disappear
But when He laughs it shines again
How could it be....
Amen!
