Joseph
The Forgotten Member of the Christmas Story
There is no doubt that you are being bombarded with everything Christmas. Its everywhere you look. Turn on the television and there are commercials offering you the greatest bargains you could ever hope for. Decorations line the streets and radio stations blast Jingle Bells and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. Its hard to feel merry when you are struggling with infertility, and all you want for Christmas is a positive pregnancy test. Your heart is filled with so many questions, and in this time when our attention is turned to Gods plan for humanity, you cant help but wonder about His plan for you. Today would be a good day to sit down with Joseph. Share a few moments with the man who adopted the Savior. The one who wiped His nose and taught Him a trade. The one whose heart must have carried as many questions that first Christmas as yours does this Christmas.
Have you ever really thought about Joseph? What he thought and felt? He knows all about a life that doesnt go according to a plan. He thought he would marry the girl down the road, hed build her a nice home and theyd have children--together--and theyd be like everyone else. Sound familiar? He had no idea that God had such a plan and that he would play such a role. Dont you imagine he must have scratched his head more than once as he pondered the part he was to play in this scene? God, why me? Why did You choose me? I dont know if I can do this. Cant you see his face as he tried to get Mary settled in a stable for the birth of Jesus? God, Im failing you. Im failing her. Im failing Him. I cant do this right. I just cant do this. I just wanted to get married and have a family, God! I feel like such a failure.
Scripture doesnt tell us much about Joseph so we dont really know if he felt like this or not. We do know that he must have loved Mary, and that he trusted God with all of his heart. No matter what his exact thoughts were, he had to be amazed at the magnitude of the role he was called upon to play. I believe there were times when his calling felt too heavy, the job seemed too hard. Does yours? Does the burden of infertility weigh too heavily on your heart? Especially during times when society focuses so intensely on family and children? Think again on Joseph.
During the times Joseph must have struggled in feeling like he wasnt doing enough for his unique family, he must have felt like a failure, yet Heaven must have smiled. Why? Because Josephs trusting heart was leading him down the path Heaven had planned for him. He couldnt see the entirety of Gods plan and couldnt understand all that he was asked to do, but his servants heart trusted God. He was playing a role in the events that would change not only his world, but the world.
There are times as you are called upon to carry the burden of infertility when you are faced with facets of Gods plan that you do not understand. You may feel like a failure, much like Joseph may have. You may feel as if you are failing your family by not giving your spouse a child or not giving your parents grandchildren. Somehow, your servants heart keeps trusting in God and His magnificent plan for your life. And Heaven smiles because your trusting heart keeps you walking the path God has planned for you even when His plan has included infertility for a while.
Joseph may have winced when he looked inside that dirty, little stall where his sweetheart would labor to bring the Savior into the world. He may have thought he was doing Him an incredible injustice by not providing better. But God led him there just as He led the shepherd and the Magi there. Just as He led you to your physician or support group, or into the care of your supportive friend or the church family who loves you not even knowing the struggle you face.
And Heaven smiles.
-Beth Forbus