Following God Every Day

Last updated on: December 26, 2011 at 10:13 am by Amy Julia Becker

Following God Every Day 2011-12-26T10:13:09-05:00 Amy Julia Becker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

One of the wonders of the Christmas season is the opportunity to teach our kids the Christmas story. We’ve used a sticker-based Advent calendar this December, in which readings from the Bible correspond to a little poem and a sticker. Penny remembers the details from years past, but to William, it’s new–the shepherds, the wise men, the donkey, the angel, the star, and even Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. For weeks now, he’s played with our nativity scene–a set of relatively indestructible and unattractive crocheted dolls. William also attended three sets of lessons and carols (note the picture–that’s him standing in the aisle with a Bible open to imitate the choir’s books of music), and he has asked each night for a “Christmas church song” as a lullaby.

On Christmas Eve, Penny helped me read a child’s version of the story–she can sight read “baby Jesus” and “Christmas” and a host of other words, so together we narrated as William placed each of the characters on a table for the rest of the relatives to see. An angel, then Mary, Joseph, donkey. The animals, the manger, the baby Jesus. The shepherds. At the very end, as Penny and I read about the wise men, William lay two large American girl dolls on top of the scene. We all giggled, but then William, serious as could be, explained, “They are the presents for baby Jesus.” He and Penny then led us in a rollicking rendition of Happy Birthday.

Penny focused on the words and William the wise men, but my attention this season has lay with Joseph. I’ve always been impressed with Mary, with her willingness to question the angel, what I imagine as her quiet but firm combination of doubt and faith, her acceptance of God’s will for her life, even if that meant public disgrace and abandonment. But I was struck this year by the fact that before Joseph had any inclination that Mary’s pregnancy was caused by God he “had in mind to divorce her quietly.” For all he knew, his new bride had cheated on him (or, I suppose, had been raped). Regardless, she had violated his honor. We know very little about Joseph but his character comes forth in that he wanted to treat Mary as well as he possibly could, even before an angel reassured him of God’s intentions for the child in her womb.

These thoughts gave me new respect for Joseph, but they also made me think that God chose Mary and Joseph as Jesus’ parents precisely because of their day to day faith and faithfulness, not only in devotion to God but in kindness to one another. Joseph was already a man of integrity, and then the angel visited him. Joseph already wanted to take care of Mary, and then he discovered she was bearing the Christ-child.

I hope this Christmas leaves William with some understanding that Jesus is a gift to us, and that we give to him out of gratitude. And I hope it leaves me with some ability to follow God in the day to day, without supernatural assurances or interventions, in the decisions I make about caring for people around me and honoring them as God’s beloved.

Previous Post

December 20, 2011

Designer Babies, Christmas, and A Good and Perfect Gift

Next Post

December 28, 2011 All I Want for Christmas Is Some Sleep...

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Articles Books Disability Down Syndrome Faith family Perfectly Human Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 September 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz