When Joseph Went to Bethlehem

I'm with the primary-aged children every Sunday. For Christmas Sunday next week they are going to be singing a medley of Mary's Lullaby and When Joseph Went to Bethlehem. I love the song When Joseph Went to Bethlehem. Ever since I was pregnant with Cleone, it has become one of my favorite Christmas songs. The most touching part of the song to me is second and third verse,

I think there at the busy inn

That he was meek and mild

And awed to be the guardian

Of Mary's sacred Child.

Perhaps all through the chilly hours

He smoothed the swaddling bands,

And Jesus felt the quiet strength of

Joseph's gentle hands.

And close beside the manger bed

He dimmed the lantern's light,

And held the little Jesus close upon

That holy night.

I remember my mom sharing with us when we were younger why there was "no room for them in the inn". In those days, the housing was more like hostels, not hotel rooms. They put as many people on the floors as possible to make enough room for all the travelers coming in to be taxed. A woman having a baby would need her own room and space. Even if such a room were to be available the price would have been too great. Mary and Joseph had very little money. We know this because when the time came to offer up a sacrificial offering after Mary's days of purification, they offered up two turtle doves or two pigeons in place of a lamb because of for those that were poor, it was acceptable before God (Luke 2:24 & Leviticus 5:7). 

Amongst his angst and concern, I imagine that Joseph moved forward with faith and full of emotions. I think of the love of my husband and the concern, anxiousness and all the emotions that came as he held my hand and supported me through the birth of our first child. We were in a clean, sanitary environment with medical support which may have ultimately saved mine and our baby's new little life. Joseph, I imagined cleared away the animals and searched for the cleanest straw or hay he could find before helping Mary as she passed through the shadow of death giving birth for the first time. A part of me hopes that an unrecorded help was sent so that the two of of them did not have to go through it alone. Joseph was the foster father of Jesus but the love he felt for Mary and the faith he had in his Savior being born most likely guided him through that time. Mary's sacrifice was incredible, Christ's sacrifice, far more reaching then the mind can imagine. Joseph's sacrifice was amazing as well, chosen to be the surrogate father, even if temporary for our Savior and giving Mary strength through this time and through the young years of Christ's life. 

Simon Dewey, His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful