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Christmas- A #ThemBeforeUs Story
It has always been difficult to put Them (children) before Us (adults). Doing so requires adults do hard things to protect the rights of children. Throughout the ages, many adults have chosen the easier path by making the child sacrifice. 1/
It has always been difficult to put Them (children) before Us (adults). Doing so requires adults do hard things to protect the rights of children. Throughout the ages, many adults have chosen the easier path by making the child sacrifice. 1/
But the Christmas story is of adults who embraced hardship for the sake of a child & ended up changing not just their world, but ours too.
An angel told Mary she would “conceive and give birth to a son” and call him Jesus. “How will this be since I am a virgin?” she asked. 2/
An angel told Mary she would “conceive and give birth to a son” and call him Jesus. “How will this be since I am a virgin?” she asked. 2/
The answer was costly, “the power of the most high will overshadow you” that is, there would be no bio father. Mary understood this meant- losing her betrothed, being viewed as a loose woman (the opposite of her character) and the scorn, ridicule & rejection that would follow. 3/
Despite the personal and social cost she chose to do hard things and replied, “Let it be done to me according to his word.” When he heard Mary was pregnant, her fiancé Joseph wanted to end the relationship. 4/
But sacrificing for the most vulnerable is the expectation throughout scripture, thus an angel told Joseph “do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” 5/
Despite knowing he would not be raising his own child & the stigma to follow, Joseph chose to do hard things & by marrying her. Mary’s decision to #dohardthings secured the baby’s #righttolife. Joseph’s decision to #dohardthings secured the baby’s right to both mom & dad. 6/
For those who object, “Jesus had two dads” note that neither Jesus’s heavenly Father nor his earthly father denied him daily contact with his mother. Rather, both fathers recognized Mary’s critical role in Jesus‘s life, and worked to ensure He would not lose her. 7/
Their #marriage created a tiny but mighty family able to withstand a murderous government, life as refugees & the trials of living in occupied territory. Such is the nature of marriage/family, it’s the last/strongest bulwark against tyranny. That’s why totalitarians target it. 8/
What resulted from Joseph and Mary’s decision to do hard things for the sake of a child? Joy, peace, and healing for those who trust in Christ. 9/
Today, when we put #ThemBeforeUs in policy & personal decisions, children experience the joy of witnessing their father love their mother, the peace of an in-tact home... and all of society can be healed.
Merry Christmas to our friends who are seeking to put them before us. 10/
Merry Christmas to our friends who are seeking to put them before us. 10/