Joseph: Adoptive Father, Faithful Father
Saturday, December 20, 2008
One moment that I will never forget no matter how long I live is the moment when I walked out of the orphanage in Borivichy, Russia carrying my precious little seven month old daughter in my arms. She slept soundly while I drew her blanket wrapped body closer to me to shield her from the cold December winds. It was midnight on Christmas Eve and God had given me my heart's longing. A child to parent for Him.
Although the snowflakes were gently falling around me and others in the group of newly adopting parents were unaware, I knew that it was a God moment. And my heart sang. But along with the song was also an awareness of the huge responsibility I now had. I knew that I needed God's help to parent this child.
At Christmastime my thoughts frequently turn to the time of Jesus birth. Was Joseph gripped by that same kind of overflowing awe and thanksgiving? Did he draw Mary close to his side as they gazed at their newborn son? What was there in Joseph that God chose him to be his earthly father? What can I learn from him?
These questions and more have prompted me to read and research. As an adoptive parent my curiosity and interest in the character of Joseph is great. He knew what it was to parent a child that he did not father. But did he ever wonder? Did he ever feel inadequate? Did he ever doubt his own abilities? Did he ever gaze into the night sky wondering how he would do it?
We may never know the answers to these questions but we can grasp some insight into his character by noting the pattern of his actions.
Joseph is first mentioned in Matthew 1: 18-25. He is referred to as being a righteous man. Because Mary and Joseph were betrothed, Mary's apparent unfaithfulness carried a social stigma. According to Jewish civil law Joseph had the right to divorce her and the authorities could have stoned Mary. He was faced with an extremely difficult choice.
But according to scripture God appeared to him in a dream revealing for him to marry Mary and that her child would be the Messiah. This could have been humiliating for him but he chose to obey God. His actions reveal not only his strong principles but also his sensitivity and self discipline. They also indicate Joseph's responsiveness to God. He was a man of integrity who was willing to do God's will no matter what.
Although others may have disapproved with his decision Joseph went ahead with what he knew was right. How many times as an adoptive parent I have needed to make decisions for my children which are not always met with approval. School decisions, discipline, setting healthy boundaries, etc. are not always easy to make. Joseph's example is an encouragement to parents to obey God rather than to seek approval of others
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