I Believe.

First, let me tell you that I believe the Christmas story to be true.

That doesn't stop me from wondering about the many parts of the story that aren't told.

I have always wondered, since BOTH Mary and Joseph were descendants of David, why didn't some other family member give them THEIR room for the night? They had to go to Bethlehem too. Was Mary, even though now married to Joseph, being shuned by their families?

And, where does it say that Mary was phlegmatic? Why must obedient women always be portrayed as quiet? It would seem to me that God would have chosen someone to bare His Son who would be a strong-minded, able bodied, wearer of something other than just pale blue woman who could handle having a baby in a barn, entertain kings she had no idea were coming, and run away to another country at a moments notice.

Daughter and I were talking yesterday, she who is in her 9th month of pregnancy, and I asked her how she would feel if Son-in-law announced to her that they were leaving on a manditory journey by foot (who said they had a donkey?). The walking part sounded good to her, and, at this point, having the baby in a barn seems secondary to just HAVING the baby.

I also doubt that Mary lacked the female hormones that cause one to 'nest'. Please don't picture a dirty barn. I'm sure that before she was through with it, even the barn had a halo over it.

Shepherds were quite often young girls. Angels are said to look like men.

Much to ponder...