"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily."
Matthew 1:18-19
I think that this is interesting... I'm sure that we know the story of the virgin birth already, but taking a step back, I think that God was amazingly merciful here. The virgin birth would have happened anyway... God didn't have to save Mary and Joseph's marriage. But he did. Letting Joseph know what was up. He didn't do it right away though... Mary was pregnant, Joseph found out, and he had to decide what to do... a public condemnation for adultery, or just a small private disavowal. Either way, the relationship was going to end. I'm sure that Joseph didn't even consider a miracle... an "exception" of that magnitude. He thought about the options that he thought he had... but God gave him better options, revealing the truth that he had never considered. ... I think that we can learn from this in a way. Perhaps we can remember that miracles happen, and that we never have all the information. We don't know what it is like for another person, or why they have done what they have. Sometimes situations aren't the way they appear, or there are extenuating circumstances that only God knows about. Maybe if we remember that today, and make God a part of every interaction and relationship, we can learn to be kinder and more forgiving... not making a public example, even if things turn out as we expect, and opening our hearts to those miracles that do happen, even when we think there is no hope. Remember Joseph, and the choices we all have that we don't see.
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