Joesph's Side of the Story

         As women, we always look at Mary's story around Christmas time and how wonderful it was that she got to deliver God's Son. Now don't get me wrong, how Jesus came to earth was a miracle in itself but have you ever thought to look at Joesph's side of the Story. If you look at Mary's and Joesph's sides each apart and then together, it really does show the jobs of a women and a men when they are married together. Now this could be taken wrong if you don't know the whole story of those two or even the whole Bible so before you read all of this entry you need to know more about the Bible. I think this is a little thing to look into once you are use to the Bible and know most of the stories in it because it can be confusing and I don't want to lead anyone down that path.      
         So here is what I get from being a long time Christian and reading this Christmas story over and over again. I don't know why God is showing me this part of the story this year. I wonder if it means anything but I don't worry about that, at least I am learning more from God's Word for my future. What I see in the Birth of Jesus story this year is this: the side of Joesph's story. As Christians, especially Christian women, all we usually see is Mary's side of the of story, which is where the miracle happens and why it happens but she isn't all the story. Joesph had a big part in the story of Jesus too.
         Joesph had to take Mary as his wife in a day where giving birth to a baby outside of marriage was wrong and looked down upon. Not only that, he had an important job too in all of this. Joesph got to name the baby "Jesus". An angel came to him directly in a dream and told him the name to name God's Son and what it really meant. It means "God with us" in a short version. Just think about all that weight Joesph had on his shoulders too. As women, especially single women, we don't tend to think about all the weight that is on a guy's should especially if we like one.
         Yes, the guy is suppose to be the leader but not without the help from his wife. I think that God giving Joesph the name to name His Only Son was a way to show us that Joesph was the leader of the family. Yet, women, we need to help the guy out. If you have ever bene out on a date or liked a guy, then you know what I am talking about. Nothing will get done if you two just stand and look at each other overtime you see each other. The guy could be thinking, "what is she thinking?, "do I look ok?",  "should I go over there and talk to her?", and so on probably the same questions us, women, are asking ourselves.
           We don't have to take the lead but we can fairly easily go up and talk to them as friends if we see them somewhere. We can encourage them in a lot of different ways. We can start taking notice of them and letting them know it. We can do a lot of things with our caring and loving personality that God has given us. This whole outlook is new for me because I use to be the one in high school that just sat back and waited for the guy to come to me but I know I have to help a guy out now. Just like God gave Joesph Jesus's name, God can give the guy the answer he is looking with us, to keep as a friend or go deeper with it, but how does that guy know what to think if we don't do anything to help him. He can't read our minds.
           It was just a real eye opener for me after I read one of my church's devos that was about the angel coming down and giving Joesph the name of Jesus. It is kind of like that was God's way of telling Joesph too that yes, I want you to marry Mary but wait until my Son is born. It is a lot to think about but do it and see if you understand and if it makes a little, if not a lot, of sense to you.