(Mary comes in packing a bag as if she’s getting ready to go on an overnight trip.)

      Oh, here’s my favorite scarf – I knew I’d left it somewhere around here. Now, where did I put my sandals? Oh, here they are. I’m definitely going to need these. Oh, hello. What are you all still doing here? I thought Joseph and I were the last ones in town. It seems as if everyone has gone out to be registered and that’s where we’re headed, too. We have to make the trek to Bethlehem. A three day trip in my condition! Can you imagine?! Still, when the Emperor says register, what choice do we have? We have to go. We’ve waited as long as we can for Jesus to be born, but he’s just not cooperating. It shouldn’t surprise me.
      This whole journey of pregnancy has been one amazing experience after another. I don’t have time to share all the details now. Let’s just say, it has required a lot of faith. On my part and on Joseph’s, too.
      It was tough at first – especially for Joseph. He almost dismissed me from our engagement, you know. I didn’t blame him. I remember going to his house that night - about 6 months ago. My belly was growing and I had kept this from him long enough. I told him I was pregnant and I told him how it happened, but he didn’t believe me. I told him the truth, but it didn’t fit with the way Joseph knew the world worked. He thought I cheated on him. And boy, was he angry.
      Angry because he thought I went outside of my promise to him. He was worried, too. Worried about what others would think – what they would say. Finally, he was sad. Sad that all his plans and dreams for a future with me were dashed. Nothing I said helped. Finally, he asked me just to leave. He said we would talk again in the morning, but knew that the right thing to do in this situation was to dismiss me. He promised he would dismiss me quietly. Joseph is a good man and he didn’t want to publicly disgrace me – to ruin my life. Still, I left in tears that night, wondering how God was going to make all of this right.
      I prayed for God to send the angel back to me that night – to tell me what was going to happen to us – to give me a sign that everything was going to be OK. But, nothing. I barely slept that night, worried about what the next day would bring. Ever since I could remember, I had known that Joseph was going to be my husband. The thought of that not happening made me sad. And it scared me. Who would take care of me – of us?
      I guess my faith wavered in those early months, too. Still, God provided. God made a way. An angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream that night and told him that my story was true. The angel told him to not be afraid to take me as his wife. Joseph found me the next morning. My eyes were almost swollen shut from crying and his eyes were wide from taking in all that the angel had told him. He told me that he believed me now and we were married later that week. God truly does work in mysterious and miraculous ways!
      These last 6 months have been mostly good. Of course some people around town talked. But, it’s easy to drown out their talk with the sound of our own dreams. And the sound of saying this baby’s name over and over. Jesus. It has a pretty good ring to it. Don’t you think? But, neither Joseph or I can take credit for that. My angel, Gabriel, told me that this would be his name. Joseph’s angel said the same thing. “Mary will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” He will save his people from their sins.
      Only God knows the road ahead for our sweet boy. For now, we just can’t wait to hold him in our arms and do our best to give him what he needs. Still we wonder about being his parents. Just the other night, Joseph was reflecting about it. His questions were a bit different than that of most parents. What does it mean to be the guardian of God? How do we provide for and protect the Savior of the world? His questions have no answers. All we can do is step forward in faith. Each day, we remind ourselves that all we need to do is take one thing at a time and trust that God will continue to guide us each day as God has from the very beginning.
      Well, I should go. I’m pretty much packed and I’ve been here too long as it is. I’m sure Joseph is ready and waiting patiently for me. I hope that donkey is feeling strong today as I don’t know that I’ll hold up to the 9 hours of walking that we have ahead of us. (Start leaving the church and find a blanket on the way out.) I guess I’ll throw this in, too. You never know when you might need some swaddling clothes!