Joseph- an important role

Ever think about Joseph much?
I have a lot lately. What it must have been like, to be the one not to carry the dream, but to help care for the one who does.
Mary held the promised baby, but Joseph had a specific important role to play. It was a supporting role, but a very crucial one.

God let Joseph in on the plans, they were so good. But he must have doubted or questioned at times. (“What am I doing here?”). He must have worried. He must have heard what the people all said. The whispers, the stares, and probably flat out accusations.

And yet.
He never let go. He never wavered from the path. He may have come close a time or two, wandering away for a night, troubled, wrestling, many a day. We don’t know.

But when it came time for the dream to come to life, Joseph was there. When it was time to travel to a new-old place, which probably didn’t make much sense to them at such a time. Yet it was predestined to be the ultimate destination for that moment, Joseph was there. Joseph was there as they traveled. Joseph was there as they couldn’t get a room. Joseph was there, by Mary’s side- it maybe a little ahead, or maybe even dragging his feet, though by this point I probably doubt it.
He was guiding Mary to a safe place to have her baby, even as they both were being guided to the right exact place.

He was the one by her side as she labored, the one who wiped her brow, eased her worries, and tried not to be consumed by his own.
Joseph, the carpenter not-quite-father, yet father, chosen. An unlikely doula. An ultimate dream catcher.

Ever thought about that?
I think of my own husband by my side during labor. Being my side during a lot of things. Of his care and support. Priceless, important, of immeasurable value, at every turn. Though, I’m pretty sure he was glad to not be the only one in the room when our children were born. He was still the one that mattered most.

Joseph’s role is an unmistakably vital one.

There is a lot of life,- people, plans, dreams- that take a Mary to carry it. Every person, every promise, every dream needs a spiritual womb and a real heartbeat to bring it to life. When it comes to dreams, it is not always a physical gender that matters, but a spiritual element. There are just as many Josephs needed, to walk alongside in support.
Joseph’s are ones who may not carry the “baby”, but they support the one who does. They carry hope, these Josephs, if not the promise itself. In carrying that hope, waiting for something that they know is going to come, the are helping bring it to life. In their belief, their position, they are guarding it. They are guarding that new life.

Josephs are guardians TO a promise-holder. And to a promise itself. They are a keepers of dreams. Sometimes, many dreams.
You might be a Joseph to someones “be it unto me”, Mary moment.

Every dream is a baby coming to be.
Every baby is a dream coming to be.
Every dream needs to be born through a person.
Every person in delivery needs real, true support.

Maybe you’re that kind of Joseph to someone else’s. To their dream, to new life. A bearer of Hope, yourself. Just by proximity and care.
Don’t stop. The world needs you, the important part you have to play.

We all need more Joseph’s.
We need a spirit of Joseph to flood the earth, with Hope.
To protect the promises. To forget their own worries and help ease another’s. To wipe that brown, and breathe together through the pain. To be a doula through transition, someone who can advocate for Nary in her pain. Who stands beside her, behind her. With her.
And someone who is there to catch, and receive, that promise.
Who will look into the eyes of new life, and to welcome it with open hearts and arms.

Guardians of destinies and dreams.
Protectors of Life.
Fathers to all of God’s children,
to every dream carried that’s about to come true.
Josephs that stand by Mary’s side and enable her, in the best possible way, to give birth to new life.
Guardian of God’s dreams.
Doula to new life,
To new promises- the ones no one knows or sees or understands yet.
Carriers of covenant. Warriors for family.
Firm in faith even in opposition.
Unwavering. Builders. Of life.

Cmon Josephs. We all need you.

Amen