A Story of Family

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:18-21 ESV).

Christmas Eve sees many different kinds of celebrations. Let me take you back forty-seven years to a particular Christmas Eve. As you know, Mary and I were married on December 21st, forty-seven years ago. We had decided to honeymoon in South Texas seeing some of the people and places that Mary had known as a child growing up in Carrizo Springs, Texas. At the end of our trip we were scheduled to stay at one of the grandest hotels in San Antonio, the St. Anthony. It is still one of the most beloved of San Antonio luxury hotels and has been restored to the opulence that made her storied halls the haunt of politicos, princesses and a-list celebrities. Overlooking Travis Park it is three blocks from both the Alamo and the River Walk. However, in all of that grandeur, in that day, there wasn’t anything open on Christmas Eve in San Antonio! AS Mary and I walked the nearly deserted streets, we saw one building that was open. It was the St. Joseph Catholic Church. And, of course, they were celebrating Christmas Eve with a high mass. Mary had never been to a Catholic service. So, we decided to venture in. The sights and sounds were incredible; however, the scent of the strong incense was more than my bride or I wanted to endure. We left quickly and returned to the hotel. Sitting in the room, we both decided it would be a good time to call our family. That made the night pleasant indeed. Christmas is a time for family gatherings. This interaction can bring great joy or great stress. Estrangement or ill will from past conflicts can explode. Joseph and Mary had their share of family challenges. Consider their circumstances. With the strange news of her pregnancy while a virgin and the dream Joseph received from an angel, he certainly had reason to be confused, angry, and disappointed. However, he felt none of those things. Joseph followed instructions and cared for his family. His continuing commitment to Mary and Jesus played a significant part in the child's birth and early childhood. With God's help, the family overcame major obstacles. I know there are those circumstances where it simply isn’t safe for a family to be together with some of the other family members. However, short of that, is it time for you to restore those family ties? That may be the best gift you can give or receive this Christmas.