Does it seem like Christmas becomes more stressful every year? So many extra things added to our already over-packed schedule. Extra parties, extra shopping, extra eating, extra cards, extra expenses, extra events, extra wrapping, extra travel, extra fruit cake, extra traditions, extra baking, extra relatives, extra movies…extra everything. Except maybe extra time spent thinking about Jesus?
Joseph & Mary were extra busy, too. Amid a publicly shameful marriage fiasco, they were forced to travel at the very time the doctor said not to travel…very much with child and ready to deliver at any time. Travel to Bethlehem. Only 70 miles. About an hour on I-69. 4 Days by Donkey. Unless you are very pregnant and need to take frequent rests. Then maybe 5 days. Sleeping on the road at night. In the cold. On the ground. Rocky ground. Definitely not what the doctor ordered. But through all that, I bet they were able to keep their minds focused on Jesus. Not just because He was the baby they were paternally and maternally wired to protect. Not just because delivering him would be such a relief physically (after all the difficult delivery aspects, of course). I can’t help but think that they were compelled to focus on Jesus because of what the angels had told them. Who He was, Who He would become, What He would do and the significance of His coming. Despite their travel, the financial, physical and emotional stress of the trip, the lack of proper accommodations when they arrived, and the complete inadequacy of the setting so not fit for a King, Mary & Joseph most likely were able to keep their minds and hearts fixed on Jesus. This Christmas, may we do likewise.