A forgotten hero of Christmas

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

Here it is Christmas Eve already.  My shopping has been finished since last Saturday morning.  It’s been wrapped and under the tree since Saturday afternoon.  Much of what usually gives me stress during this season, is simply not at play this year.

What a terrific blessing.

After work last night, The Wife and I settled out onto the deck and enjoyed a fire under the stars.  It was a lovely, crisp night, still and quiet.  It was a rare moment for the two of us.

I could very nearly discern the distant lowing of cattle.

It was hard not to be mindful of such a night more than two thousand years ago when our savior was born.

At Christmas, we all sing of the miraculous birth of God incarnate, Jesus the Christ.  We cry out ave’s to His virgin mother.  We even sing about the shepherds and magi who came to kneel before his manger throne (thanks for that phrase, Mark).

Very few recognize another miracle present that day.

The miracle of Joseph, Christ’s earthly father.

Certainly there are men today who raise other men’s children as their own.  In our culture, that is.  Travel to the Middle East of Christ’s time and the story is very different.   I can scarce imagine the level of scorn heaped upon an unwed mother of those days, much less the serious physical punishments offered as well.

Stoning.  Burning.  Your choice.

Men of Joseph’s time were bred to think of the honor and sanctity of their family’s.  To marry a woman carrying the child of another?

Unthinkable.

It is, then, a man of remarkable courage who answers God’s call, takes Mary for his wife, and raises her son as his own.

I have always been amazed by this act of blind faith and bravery.  Yet we don’t really celebrate Joseph much at Christmas.  It often seems in the telling of the nativity, Joseph’s presence is a rather matter-of-fact affair.  It’s like he just drove the car – er, donkey – to Bethlehem, but Mary and God did all the work.

Believe me, I’m not diminishing anyone’s roles here.  I just think we need to be heaping love on Big Joe as well.  Our nativity scenes would look a lot different without Joey.

Joseph  protected his family (Matthew 2:14), he provided for them (Matthew 13:55), he loved his son.  We live in an age where so many fathers fall short of their responsibilities.  Either they choose not to support their children emotionally, financially, or are completely absent from their lives – or even worse – they are ever-present with abuse.

All fathers should learn from and be guided by Joseph’s example.

We are not just provided the miracle of the virgin birth on Christmas.  We are given the fine example of the holy family.   Just as Christ walked, we struggle to follow.  Likewise, we should revere, love, and protect our children and spouses just as Joseph looked after his family.  These are our role models.

All of this crackled in my head last night just as the fire did in its pit.

May God bless you and yours this Christmas and throughout the coming year.