NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress
The sun was low in the West as the young couple saw the towers of Jerusalem in the distance as they turned south to Bethlehem. They trudged wearily across the low valley and up the eastern slope of the hill on which Bethlehem lay. They were trying to get there as fast as they could because Mary had begun to complain of backache, which, as they approached the town, seemed to begin to come and go in waves. Mary did not want to alarm Joseph so had not told him of this latest change in her pain. He just believed she was tired from being pregnant and walking that distance, and wanted to get them a place for her to rest.
There had been others on the road with them, also coming to Jerusalem and Bethlehem because of the census. Joseph had his own little worry – that there would be no place for them to stay. They finally did come to a place where they could see some other travellers about the premises so Joseph concluded this could be a place that was making space available for travellers.
They turned aside and Joseph inquired as to whether they had room for two more. The owner of the house was at first dismissive and said they had no room, but apologized when he saw Mary and said they were already full and really could do no more. In response to Joseph’s query as to whether there were other places to stay, he really could not say. Joseph was considering going on to look for himself when a sudden cry came from Mary and he turned in dismay as he saw her crumple to the ground. The owner’s wife came out at that point and seeing Mary in her condition ran to help her and turned and said sternly to her husband, “Ephraim, they can stay in the loft above the animals. At least they can rest there and it will even be a little warmer. At least it will be shelter.” Turing back to Mary she said, “Poor child, having to come all this way in your condition.” With her help joseph pulled Mary to her feet and placed his arm inside hers to support her more firmly as they were led to the dark area at the side of the house where the lady helped Mary up some steps and quickly pushed together some heaps of straw for the weary travellers to lie down on.
When Mary gasped again as pain struck her once more, the woman looked at her protruding abdomen, then up to meet Mary’s eyes, “Are you in labour?”
“I don’t know,” Mary panted, maybe? She looked beseechingly into the woman’s eyes, “What can I do?”
Joseph’s mind was in turmoil. What was happening to their trip? What seemed to be unfolding in front of him was not something he had at all anticipated!
Joseph had the presence of mind still to throw his cloak down on the straw for Mary to lie down on. The homeowner’s wife was running back towards their area of the house yelling at her husband and family. In short order, she was back with a burning lamp that she placed on the flat top of a stone in the wall where it protruded from the one above it. Soon a child whom Joseph judged to be one of their children appeared with a basin of warm water which, following her mother’s instructions, she placed near Mary’s feet.
The woman, meanwhile had helped Mary settle comfortably onto the straw. Having learned their names, she asked Joseph to sit at Mary’s head. Joseph was glad to do so. It seemed that someone knew what she was doing. He sure did not know what to do.
Just then Mary had another of her pains. “Yes, Mary,” the lady said, “I think you are going to have a baby.” Joseph’s eyes widened and he had to struggle to calm the panic he felt coming over him.
“Joseph,” the woman said, “put your legs alongside Mary and let her rest on your chest. It will give her support and make it easier for her. At some point she will have to push and you can be what she pushes against!”
Joseph meekly followed the woman’s instructions. He had no other ideas. Meanwhile, she was helping rearrange Mary’s garments to make room for the baby to be born.
Mary was young, strong and healthy, and it was not long before she cried, “I think the baby is starting to come!”
The woman yelled at her husband again and he appeared with a knife which he lay beside the lamp and took the basin of water away and then returned with it filled with clean warm water again.
“Mary,” she said, “I know it is hard, but if you can squat – Joseph can put his arms under yours and help you up, it will be much better.”
The young people continued to follow their helper’s suggestions. When it was evident Mary was having another contraction, she was instructed to push. Joseph had braced himself against her to keep her upright. A few contractions later a head of black hair appeared and with the next contraction they saw the whole head.
“Try to relax and take some deep breath between the pains,” the woman said.
Suddenly the baby cried, just as Mary felt another pain coming on. With a cry and extra strain on her part, the baby emerged in its entirety and into a cloth the woman was holding at the ready. The baby cried again as she wrapped it in the cloth and laid it between her and Mary. She reached for the knife and, passing it through the flame, cut the umbilical cord. After quickly tying the ends in knots she began to bath the baby with the water in the basin. At the same time she told Mary, “You are not done yet, there is still the afterbirth. A few pushes later Mary rid herself of that and suddenly she felt a whole lot better. Instead of the pain filling her mind she was now filled with wonder at this miracle in front of them. What an amazing thing had just happened!
“Joseph,” she whispered turning her fact up towards his, squeezing his hands one more, giving him a kiss on the cheek, “It’s our Jesus.”
Joseph did not know whether to laugh or cry. Nor for that matter did Mary.
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