A Father’s Joy   

This is a story I was inspired to write after enjoying the Christmas concert by Randy Thompson at our church.  I was picturing the joy that earthly fathers have when their children are born, 
and imagining how that might have looked for God the Father.
 

“May I help you, Miss?” 

The young girl startled and looked up, and found herself caught by the countenance of an old man.  His face, craggy like an ages-old tree trunk, gave the appearance of one who was part of the landscape itself.  Perfect white teeth showed through his crooked grin.  His hair was jet black with scattered streaks of grey, wavy and falling luxuriantly to his shoulders.  

But it was his eyes that kept Mary’s face riveted—eyes that reflected the colors of the sky and sea with a hint of the depth of moods and emotions found therein.  There was an intensity in his gaze that was almost fearsome, and yet something so familiar and warm and . . . knowing.  No one had ever looked at Mary this way, and in fact in recent months, folks usually averted their faces or gave looks of contempt and judgment when the young woman approached.

This man looked as if he knew her—inside and out.  Instead of feeling the shame of being undressed by the eyes, Mary’s heart and mind filled with a sense of regalness—as if he saw her as a princess and loved her with a holy and pure delight.  This thought came in a rush that almost made Mary dizzy from its immensity.

As if coming out of a dream, the girl shook her head to clear her thoughts.  “I must have cried out . . . ,” she began apologetically. 

Instinctively, her hands cradled her protruding abdomen, and she realized that her contractions had begun in earnest.  She had noticed periodic tightening of her belly throughout the day, and had hoped they could be settled in lodgings for the night before her time had come.  Joseph was negotiating with the innkeeper at that moment after they had been turned away at three other places.  Night was coming on, and they would still need to make inquiries about a midwife.  So many thoughts raced through her mind!  Behind the stranger, she could see Joseph’s shoulders droop with the discouragement of one more No Vacancy response.

Another wave of pain rose inside of Mary, beginning in her lower back, surging through her middle, and settling again in her back.

“Joseph, I . . .!”  Mary’s cry hung in midair as she felt herself slipping off her donkey.  Instantly, she was caught in the arms of the old man, as Joseph began running, shouting back to the innkeeper, “It’s the baby!  Mary’s baby is coming!”

The young mother-to-be was aware of the power in the man’s long arms, and she was amazed at the gentle and tender way he carried her.  His clothing exuded an aroma of springtime—clover and lilacs and honeysuckle—(where had she smelled that before?).  He placed her softly in a cart of hay and stepped back as Joseph came to her side, eyes wide with concern.

A few moments later, the innkeeper came running up.  Mary almost laughed to see the way he kept nervously looking at his wife who was watching from the doorway with an air of determination.

“The missus and me, we felt bad turning you out in the cold, with the little one coming.  We really don’t have any beds left inside, but we might find a warm, dry spot . . . “, his face reddened a bit, aware of the old man listening, and dropped his voice, “ . . . in the stable.  We have clean straw, you’ll have privacy, and my wife can even help with the midwifery.”  The last words were said in a rush, with a reckless look shot at his wife.

Mary saw the old stranger grin radiantly just before another paroxysm convulsed her body.  The innkeeper looked flustered, aware of a curious crowd starting to form.  This would not be good for business to have this woman in labor out in the street.  He frantically looked around, trying to decide the best course of action.  He saw the old man quietly giving directions to three young men—two began pulling the hay cart toward the stable and the third followed behind with the donkey.  Joseph walked beside the cart holding his wife’s hand and biting his lip as she moaned with each bump.

Once the couple was settled inside the cave, the young men quickly departed.  Mary caught a glimpse of the old man though the entryway, but her labor began to intensify, and she forced herself to focus inward.  Tension lined Joseph’s face.  He knew he shouldn’t remain in the room during the delivery, but he couldn’t leave his wife alone.  He prayed inwardly that the innkeeper’s wife would come soon and prove to be capable.  He looked outside, searching for someone he could send to the inn.  Mary’s trembling voice drew him back.

“Joseph, don’t leave me.  I think the time is very near.”

He held her small, slender hands in his large, work-hardened ones.  “You are so beautiful!” he whispered.  She did indeed look beautiful, even with her face pale and beads of sweat forming around her temples and hairline. Her hands felt cold, so he pulled a blanket around her shoulders, and kissed her cheek.

Footsteps outside the cave announced Lilia, the innkeeper’s wife.  Joseph rose, took the water kettle and the oil lamp from the stable boy who accompanied her, and ushered Lilia into the chamber.  Mary’s face brightened to see her.

“The pains are getting closer and seem to be more intense.  Mary thinks it will be soon.”  Joseph was relieved to have the older woman present, but was anxious about what he should do next.  “Is there anything you need me to do?” he asked, hesitantly.

A light, warm breeze with a hint of springtime and flowers wafted into the stable, giving a freshness to the air that nearly covered the animal smells.  The hard, businesslike lines in Lilia’s face softened as she knelt next to Mary, and the young woman visibly relaxed as the breeze caressed her face.

The midwife smiled up at the anxious husband, and there was a light of joy in her face.  “No, I think we will be just fine now.  Why don’t you get some fresh air?”

The tall man looked at his wife, so small and fragile, yet when she opened her eyes and smiled her assent, he marveled again at her ability to give him courage and strength.  He stepped outside the shelter and sat down against the wall to wait.

The stars were bright and clear, and seemingly more numerous than Joseph had ever noticed before.  There was one in particular that the man had watched on their journey from Galilee.  It had started low in the eastern sky and gave the appearance of moving toward them as they journeyed southward.  Tonight, it was nearly overhead, twinkling and glowing with more radiance than all else in the night sky save the moon.  Gazing at in awe, the carpenter reflected on the strange events of the past year.

Betrothal to Mary gave Joseph a new energy in his work and even his devotion to God.  Then, she suddenly went away for three months to be with her cousin.  When she returned, he was angry and devastated to hear that she was pregnant! 

Then, in the midst of his anguish and resolve to divorce her quietly, he was awakened in the night after an intense and very real dream.  He had been visited by an angel and could still feel the incredible brightness of the angelic presence in his eyes. This simple man who lived an ordinary life was told that his beloved was carrying the Son of God, who would be born to save people from their sins, and he, Joseph, was to take Mary as his wife without fear.  Mary had told him the same things, and the man had felt ashamed that he disbelieved her.  Still, it was an enormous revelation that totally rocked his world and brought some very disquieting thoughts.

Unable to sleep, Joseph closed his woodshop for the day and walked through the hills of Galilee for hours, experiencing and expressing to God the full gamut of his emotions, questions, doubts and fears.  When one is truly visited by an angel with a message from the Almighty, a man cannot take that lightly.  What did this all mean?  Joseph and Mary were not even wed yet, and he was being commissioned to be the earthly father for the Son of God . . . the Messiah!  How was he to do that?  He wasn’t a scholar, nor a rabbi.  His family had always been devout, and as a young man, the carpenter had studied the scriptures on his own with a reverence and curiosity that caused him to sit with the learned ones whenever he could.  But he was an imperfect and sinful man—so recently evidenced by his desire to send Mary away and harden his heart toward her explanation.  Why would God put this responsibility on him?

And what about Mary?  She was only fifteen, and even though she had helped raise her own siblings, would she be up to the task?  It seemed incomprehensible to Joseph that Yahweh  would put the shame of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy on a girl in order to bring His Son into the world.  Suddenly, the man realized that the town gossip would implicate him as her violator, and he would also be the target of cruel and lewd comments.  Part of his mind thought about running away—he had to, of course, wed the young woman and take her with him, away from the scorn and ridicule of those who wouldn’t understand.  Where could they go?

“And a virgin shall conceive and bear a child.  Have no fear for I am with you.  His name shall be called Jesus, for He shall save people from their sins.  Take Mary as your wife and do not fear.  Put your trust in Yahweh for He cares about you and will guide your paths.”

These words resounded so clearly in Joseph’s mind that he looked around to see who was speaking.  As he stood warily on the hillside, he was aware that all of his muscles were tightened in emotion—fear being the root; fear of taking on this assignment for which he felt most unworthy, fear of having his good name slandered, fear of losing friends and of his business failing, fear of disappointing Mary, and most of all, fear that his own shortcomings and sin would be revealed—by the Child in his own house. 

The power of this thought brought the muscular workman to his knees with sobs of grief exploding from his mouth.  “Oh, God, I am in need of a Savior!  Who am I to raise such a One?”

He collapsed on the ground with uncontrollable tears.  For the next hour he gave voice to his fears, his anger, his pride, and handed them over to the Almighty, allowing himself to be cleansed.  When it was over, he stood, feeling strangely empty of attitudes he had long held, and simultaneously filled with an inexplicable peace and joy.  He breathed deeply, taking in the sweet aroma of the springtime countryside.

(Joseph startled in his reverie.  That was the same scent he had experienced in the cave moments ago!)

He had raced back into town to find Mary.  She was sitting in their favorite place by the brook, and she looked as if she had been crying.  Was she struggling with some of the same questions, or was it because of the darkness of Joseph’s countenance when they last spoke?  Seeing the hesitation and resolve in her eyes when he called her name, the man realized that he had deeply hurt her, and she had been preparing to entrust herself to God without him if necessary.

“Mary, I came to ask your forgiveness.”  His voice sounded rich and strong, yet there was a humility that the girl had never heard.  His face was serene and joyous, and he carried himself with air of quiet wisdom and confidence.  Such a change from their last meeting!  Mary touched his arm to be sure that he was really the same man, and he grabbed her around the waist and swung her around.  Laughing, they fell to the ground, and Joseph shared his experiences of the previous night and morning. 

Taking her hands, he finished simply, “I don’t know what this all means, but I am certain that we are to be married, and we are to raise this Child of God together.  I am equally certain that I am not adequate to the task, but the Almighty is the One Who guides us and gives us strength. I want to protect and care for you as I promised at our betrothal, and I want to have the ceremony as soon as we can arrange it. Will you have me?”

The tears of joy in her eyes and that smile like brilliant jewels convinced the man’s heart that no matter what the cost, he would serve and trust the Lord faithfully, and honor this precious gift of a woman with all his being.  Somehow he knew that God was very pleased and would supply all that he lacked in raising the Savior.

Coming back to the present, Joseph sensed a tingling of anticipation in his own body, and in the environs around him.  It was as if the trees, the hills, the stars and moon, and even the animals were holding their breath with wild expectation.  He saw that one star suddenly throb with an unmatched brilliance, and its size seemed to double and triple before his eyes.  Rising to his feet, his face transfixed on the radiance, the carpenter knew he was witnessing a climactic moment in history.  His breath caught in his chest as his ears filled with an exuberant joyous chorus of praise (coming from the stars themselves?),   Looking into the largest orb of light, Joseph fancied he saw a face behind it—a face filled with a love and joy so powerful, the man’s knees felt weak.

How long he was entranced by the scene, the man never knew.  It felt as if he had stepped into eternity and was watching the orchestration of a celebration so great in magnitude his mind was reeling.   Every sense was alive and pulsating with the grandeur of it all, and he almost thought his heart would burst from the intensity of this immersion into the heavenly realm.

A cry from inside the cave grabbed Joseph’s attention.  It was Mary!  Joseph knew it was not proper for him to go inside until he was summoned by Lilia, but it was all he could do to keep himself outside.  Then he heard the whimpering of a baby’s first breath!  The man found himself on his knees, arms uplifted toward the star, singing along with the stars a song of praise, tears of joy and gratitude streaming down his face.

Lilia touched his arm and motioned for him to come inside.  The man felt that he was walking on holy ground, knowing he was about to look into the face of God.  Mary was lying back on the straw, perspiration forming little ringlets of hair around her face.  She was radiant, and the little bundle in her arms drew from her such a look of wonder and awe.  Though much different than the vista Joseph had witnessed outside, the stable scene was in fact the reason for the celebration and the culmination of it.  The husband knelt beside the young mother, embracing her and the child.  The infant opened his eyes, and the couple both gasped as they recognized eyes that looked like the sky and the sea.  The new baby smell reminded them both of recent memories.

“It is the aroma of God,” Mary said in wonder, “something of earth and something of the heavens—flowers and clover and spring rain.  I have smelled it before.”

“As have I,” whispered Joseph.

Lilia opened her mouth to speak, wide eyes looking from Mary to Joseph and back again. “That was the aroma of the breeze when I came in earlier, even though it is far too late in the season for such things.”  Mary and Joseph exchanged smiles as they watched the older woman pondering these thoughts.

***************************

The events in the heavens were touching others in these same moments.  Hundreds of miles away, a group of astronomer-philosophers had been charting the course of the one bright star, and were observing when its brilliance increased three-fold and more, and up to ten-fold.

“Behold!  It is like the fireworks that the eastern emperors send off when they have a son born to them, and they wish to proclaim to the world their joy and excitement,” one of them shouted.

“Surely it is a sign to the world that a new king has been born, a son of the Great Emperor, and his kingdom will be for all the world,” mused a second.

“Then we must go and find this One, and give Him our honor and service, for look, the face of His Father is glowing from behind the star,” exclaimed the third.

**********************

Closer to Bethlehem, not far from the stable, the brilliance of the star was noted by a group of shepherds.  As they watched in amazement and fear, the sky lit up nearly to the point of noontime sunlight. An angel came forward and spoke to these common folk, telling of the birth of the Savior, the Messiah.  Scores of angels filled the sky and the heavens rang with the joyous song of honor and glory and praise. 

Confused, excited and full of wonder, the shepherds gathered to go find the Child as the angel had instructed.  A little lad pulled on his father’s sleeve.  “Did you see the man standing behind the angel?  He was great big, with eyes that looked like the sea.  He had such a tremendously big smile, like Uncle Reuben had for days when his first son was born.  Each time the man smiled bigger, the sky got brighter, like he was so proud he was going to burst, and he wanted all the world to know.  Do you think that was Yahweh, and the new baby is actually His Son?”

Holly Craw

December 5, 2006  

(c) 2006 Holly Craw   All rights reserved.