Not The Father, But A Good Dad Anyway

Joseph looked up to see his bride, Mary, walking toward him. He laid his chisel down and walked toward her. His heart raced to see her again after her three month visit with her cousin, Elizabeth.

They hugged.

“I’m sorry Mary,” whispered Joseph, “I’m all sweaty and dusty from my carpentry work.” He brushed some dust off her shoulder and then added, “I wasn’t sure when you would return.”

She smiled. “I wasn’t sure either,” she said,”but it feels good to be back in your arms again.”

He gently held her close, content to be near her again. His dark eyes looked into her happy eyes. “What’s new with you? You look more radiant than ever.”

“I’m pregnant.”

Joseph gasped. His eyes double-blinked. “You’re what?” he said, shaking his head.

“Yes, I’m pregnant,” she said, bursting with child-like faith. “The angel Gabriel appeared – ”

“An angel made love to you? Isn’t that sin?” Joseph interrupted as he removed his arm from around her shoulders.

Like a lightning bolt, a thought lit up Mary’s mind, this is going to be tougher than I thought it would be. Help me Lord.

She held a forefinger to her mouth to shush him. “Let me tell you everything, including what Elizabeth prophesied, okay?”

He nodded.

When Mary finished telling him about Gabriel and Elizabeth, he said nothing. “Joseph, you believe me, don’t you?” Mary whispered.

“I want to,” replied Joseph, “but I just can’t. It’s never happened before.”

Mary wept, her heart broken by Joseph’s words. “What will you do?” she whispered.

“Just give me a few days to think about this,” he said. Then, he returned to his work.

Obviously, this is a fictional story, but something close to this most likely happened.

It’s easy to understand how devastated both had to be after the admission by Mary of her pregnancy. She probably did not understand why Joseph didn’t believe her and he probably thought she was a liar and a possible wanton.

Soon afterward, Joseph made up his mind to divorce Mary. He would go to two or three elders and write a letter of divorcement. But not wanting to disgrace Mary, he would not mention her pregnancy.

Yet, before he could carry out his plan, an angel appeared to him in a dream and confirmed what Mary had told him, even telling him the Child was to be named Jesus.

Joseph obeyed the directions of the angel and married Mary.

From this time on, Joseph was the protector of Jesus. No longer did Mary have visitations from angels, but instead they appeared to Joseph, the head of the family.

It’s my belief that the Father loved His Son so much that He gave Jesus an earthly dad who resembled the Father in humility and love, a man named Joseph.

Happy Fathers’ Day to all.