It is another day of traveling for Mary and Joseph. It is hot. Sweat clings and sand sticks to Mary’s face even though she bows her head to the wind. She is focused on getting to a place to bathe away the travel dirt while ignoring her painfully rubbed thighs from the donkey’s back and those annoying pre-labor pains. Fear niggles in the back of her mind, but she is determined not to give in to it. Weariness is becoming harder to ignore. However, Mary has faith in the God she trusts to get them there safely which strengthens her focus on His plan.
Meanwhile, Joseph is in deep thought as he navigates the donkey through the uneven terrain. His feet are sore and bleeding, but he is more concerned with finding a safe place to sleep. It will be another night alone on hard ground. He is too concerned for Mary to get much sleep himself, though. Weariness is becoming harder to ignore. However, Joseph trusts God to get them there safely which strengthens his faith in the process.
None of us are really on the same pathway even though we may be traveling in the same direction. No one has the picture perfect Christmas card family even though many keep trying year after year to fake their way through it. Like Mary and Joseph, we are all weary, dirty, overwhelmed, and many feel alone especially at Christmas. Let us be conscious of that, even forgiving, so that as we walk the path towards the light of Christ-mas we pray for each other, help each other, be patient, and trust God to straighten the way that leads to Him.
God knows each one’s struggles and will guard our minds and hearts if we relinquish the burdens of our feelings to Him. Let God change your Weariness into Wonder.
You were wearied with the length of your way, but you did not say, “It is hopeless”; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint. Isaiah 57:10