My young grandson is incredible! Maybe I’m a bragging Grandma, but even the temple teachers say he’s amazing! It shouldn’t surprise me, though, because I know the back-story of his birth!

His mother was a sensitive girl; pondering things – storing them for later contemplation, it seemed. She absorbed the scriptures read at our synagogue; scriptures repeated at home. We talked about God as we worked, when we sat, as we walked along the way – the same way you have taught your daughters about our Creator, yes?

Life seemed perfect as we celebrated her betrothal to Joseph, a kind, responsible carpenter who would care for the family they would build together. We were anticipating the coming marriage until one very difficult day. Mary had some news. I feel numb as I think back on it – she quietly confided to me that she was “with child.”

Mary? My betrothed daughter? I stood silently with my mouth open. My mind was racing. In our society, a girl could be stoned for unfaithfulness! I wanted to be angry! I was overwhelmed with embarrassment for her and our family, but the looming emotion was fear: I was afraid for her life! Instead, I managed, “Wh-h-oo is the father?”

And Mary’s eyes grew wide with wonder, not with fear, as she told me a story that would have been unbelievable – except coming from my honest daughter’s lips. “Mother,” she began, “an angel visited me! It was incredible! He said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ He sensed my emotions and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’”

The two of us, mother and daughter, sat there in wonder. What a privilege! But, it wasn’t happening the way any of us women of Israel had ever thought. God’s ways are surprisingly different than ours, aren’t they?

Mary spent the next few months at Elizabeth’s, since the angel had told Mary the amazing news of our barren kinswoman’s pregnancy in her old age. Elizabeth’s exultant greeting gave Mary the second confirmation of the identity of her baby, my grandson – the son of God!

The third came after Mary returned home three months later. Waiting for Joseph’s reaction, my stomach was in knots, until I saw his face. It was wreathed in smiles as he told Mary, “I had a dream! The angel of the Lord said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’”

God’s plans often surprise us! Without the festivities I had dreamed of for our daughter, we were still joyful. Joseph brought her to the home he was preparing for her, and she became his wife, technically still his betrothed, because they wouldn’t consummate their marriage before the baby was born.

Then, another bump in the road! As the due date approached, our Roman rulers demanded a census. Joseph and Mary traveled to his ancestral town, Bethlehem.

When the little King was born I was several days-journey away. No newspaper, e-mail, or cell phones! I assumed he’d been born when they didn’t return right away. I should have remembered that Bethlehem was prophesied as Messiah’s birthplace! As the days grew into weeks, I thought, “Well, they probably won’t travel with a newborn, and they are near the temple in Jerusalem – the naming and circumcision at eight days would be very special in the holy city.” So I waited. The weeks became months. I became anxious.

I was horrified to hear rumors of the massacre of infant boys in the vicinity of Bethlehem! Was my grandson one of those slain? I wept for all of them – whether mine or not. Herod the Great? I called him Herod the Horrible! What could you expect from a man who had his own wife and three sons killed! But babies? Toddlers?! I admit that I felt relief, not grief, when Herod the Great died. Unfortunately, three of his surviving sons ruled instead. At least Herod Antipas, Galilee’s ruler, was better than Jerusalem’s Archelaus.

Time passed, until one joyous day I recognized two familiar figures plodding up the path – Joseph walking, Mary astride a donkey, enfolding a small, sleeping son, no longer an infant. I ran to greet my grandson for the first time! What surprising stories they told about Jesus! Angels filling the night sky telling sheepherders of a baby’s birth; shepherds worshiping the infant Savior in a manger; Simeon and Anna prophesying as their promised Christ was brought into the temple; eastern visitors guided by a special star, bowing before the King, giving costly gifts; dream-angels warning of Herod’s intentions to harm the child; fleeing to Egypt; returning safely to Nazareth. God’s amazing plans – unlike ours!

This boy Messiah continues to surprise me. I wonder how he’ll “save his people from their sins?” Ah, well, let’s celebrate his birthday!

By Cheryl Olsen

Cheryl Olsen (pictured with her husband Stan) serves as the secretary of Women's Ministries of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. (www.wmclb.com)

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