YOUNG

From page A4

lems can try to claim air time in our minds during this holy season.

While sitting here, I let my mind wander to Bethlehem and I wondered if Joseph and Mary ever had stressful holidays. Did their parents want them to split Hanukah between the two families? Did they have to have latkes latkesat one house and noodle kugel kugel and beef brisket at another? Did they have to promise to light half the candles on the menorah in one home and the other half in another? Did they have gluten intolerant relatives? Did some kids in the family get in trouble with the law? Were there any family members who weren’t speaking? Did their moms compete for babysitting time with Jesus?

After thinking back in history, I concluded that of course things don’t always go smoothly for any family, even Jesus’s. Then my brain went into what I call, “what if,” mode! I love it when that happens!

What if there was Facebook, smart-phones and texting back then! I can just see Mary’s mom posting on Facebook, a photo Joseph had taken with his cell phone, of his mother-in-law holding her grandson, baby Jesus, and Joseph’s mom seeing it and being jealous because she doesn’t live near the new parents. I can see her having a fit because she hadn’t even received any photos of the new baby! (Pretend Joseph wasn’t good at calling his mom and sending photographs.)

Or what if Joseph’s mom posted a photo on Facebook of Mary and Joseph's new donkey cart and Mary’s mom saw it and said to her husband, “Where’d they get the money to get that when all they can dress the baby in is swaddling clothes?”

I never learned that much about Mary and Joseph’s parents or much about Jesus’s brothers and sisters, or aunts and uncles either, but I’m sure things weren’t peachy all the time. In fact, there is little written in scripture about the others in the family.

Scholars and theologians of all kinds have been debating these people for nearly two millennia, arguing whether those brothers and sisters mentioned here and there were in fact biological siblings, step-siblings, “half” siblings, or not even siblings at all, but cousins.

It really doesn’t matter, because what matters now as much as it did back then and for always, is that love is what the season is all about. We came here to live life and live it more abundantly, so at least during this season of love and joy let’s just do that.

Merry Christmas!

For more from Pam Young go to www. cluborganized. com.

You’ll find many musings, videos of Pam in the kitchen preparing delicious meals, videos on how to get organized, lose weight and get your finances in order, all from a reformed slob’s point of view.