Member-only story
Forget the sentimental sap about Jesus’ birth for just a minute, and let me tell you what really happened…
Joseph was a good man, and it caused him a lot of anguish to decide to go ahead and marry his pregnant fiancé. At best, his own reputation was now suspect; his friends thought he had no self-control, and that he couldn’t keep his manhood inside his own robe. And at worst — well, he had the dream to rely on — but still, in moments of weakness he had doubts. Mary was pregnant, and he knew absolutely that he wasn’t the father! Who was? Was it God? He was sure this situation was from God… sometimes.
And, if that wasn’t enough, this new tax law had been enacted. They had just gotten married a few months ago. He was trying to get on his feet financially. Mary was so pregnant she was about to pop, and he had to travel to Bethlehem for the stupid tax enrollment.
There was no way Mary could walk to Bethlehem in her condition, so he spent money he really didn’t have to rent a donkey he really couldn’t afford so that Mary could ride. And off they went. To Bethlehem. Oh boy…
Mary rode the donkey. The baby inside her was sometimes so active, squirming around, and sitting on the bouncing donkey didn’t help. And she had to pee. “This has got to be the most miserable trip I will ever take,” she thought.