Joseph deserves more credit. I tend to be one of those people that skim over Joseph and continue on to the part about heavenly hosts and shepherds. Sure, I know he’s there and he does what God says and all that, but really, he doesn’t play that much of a part, right?

Wrong.

Over the past month leading up to Christmas, I’ve been reading all the different tellings of the Christmas story in my Bible, preparing my heart for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Over and over, I’ve noticed something I’ve never really noticed before. Joseph is one of the most incredible examples of faith, trust, and belief in the Bible.

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The long awaited Christmas season has finally arrived—the Christmas music is playing

on our radios, our neighborhoods are slowly beginning to glow from Christmas trees shining through the windows, gift displays are filling the stores, and the Hallmark Christmas movies are in full swing.

Each year, I eagerly anticipate the arrival of Christmas season, excited for the cozy nights spent at home with family, the beautiful Christmas services at church, and the extra time to truly reflect on the reason for the season—the humble birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Word becoming flesh. However, if you’re like me, it often seems that I reach the end of Christmas and look back thinking “I had such greater intentions for this Christmas season.” Maybe it’s the busy holiday schedules… maybe it’s the temptation to use Christmas break as a time to be lazy… maybe it’s the distraction of earthly gifts… maybe it’s just a big ole’ mix of all these things.

So the question that we must ask ourselves is: “How can I be proactive now in preparing myself and my heart for what God has planned to do in me and through me this Christmas?”
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