It’s chilly this morning. I have the heater on, a hot cup of coffee at my side and I’m wrapped in my comfy fleece blanket. It’s a cozy way to start the day.
That being said, my thoughts turned to Mary. I know there are differing opinions on the time of year when Christ was actually born but Mary’s preparation would still be the same. The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was approximately 100 miles. Traveling by foot, aided by a donkey, the trip would have taken several days.
“ So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David’s hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David’s family.
5 Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby,” Luke 2:4-5 CEV
Preparations had to be made before embarking on such a journey. There was bedding to gather and pack, food to prepare, clothing for the baby and personal hygiene items. Much thought had to be put into these preparations.
How many days would they stay? What would be their immediate needs when the baby was born? Where would they sleep? How would they prepare for the customary presentation of a new child to the priests?
So much to consider.
I did just a little Biblical research to see what type of food they might take for the journey. I found this in the Old Testament. It seems these foods were common when traveling.
” …brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen, abundant supplies of flour, cakes of figs and raisins, wine, [olive] oil, oxen, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.” I Chronicles 12:40 CEV
Bread, raisin cakes, wine, oil and roasted meat. Mary had a lot to do. Was she weary at the end of the day, even hormonal? Did she question if she should even be going on this trip? Did she remember the angel’s words, “You have been chosen by God”? Did she remember the words of the psalmist?
“Our Lord, you keep your word and do everything you say. 14 When someone stumbles or falls, you give a helping hand. 15 Everyone depends on you, and when the time is right,
you provide them with food. 16 By your own hand you satisfy the desires of all who live. 17 Our Lord, everything you do is kind and thoughtful, 18 and you are near to everyone
whose prayers are sincere.” Psalm 145:13-18
Instead of being overwhelmed I believe Mary continued to trust God and take Him at his word. She was carrying the Messiah, the Savior of the world, and God would provide all she needed.
When we are overwhelmed, anxious because of all that needs to be done, worried about the unknown, we can trust the Lord. “Everything you do is kind and thoughtful”.
Preparing for this journey called life – not knowing what the days ahead hold, we can have confidence to know that Immanuel, God with us, has not left us to travel the road alone!