First Baptist Church of Herndon

Hard Choices

Linda Soller | Dec 05, 2016

For all the joy and celebration that comes with Christmas it also offers its share of hard choices. Do you drive to visit Great Aunt Harriot who lives all alone, and risk missing your office party that night? Do you go without some things, so you can afford to give to those who need your help? Do you shop on “Black Friday”, facing the crowds and stress? Are you at the door pushing and shoving or waiting your turn?  I could go on. What I remind myself is that the original Christmas story is full of hard choices to show us the way.

Joseph doesn’t get as much coverage in the Christmas story as Mary, or the shepherds, or the wise men.  To me he is often the forgotten hero who makes hard choices, which in turn allows events to unroll as God intended. Mary was to be his wife. Circumstances put Joseph in a difficult position. His legal rights were one thing, but his heart lead him in a different direction. His choices resulted in inconvenience, and most likely a loss of social standing. Much like going out of your way to visit family, when you have an “excuse” not to visit. Joseph decided to take the harder route and stay with Mary, doing the right things when it might have been easier to do what his culture allowed. Self-sacrifice was a huge part of Joseph’s story. So you skip a few coffees, or forget a few personal purchases you don’t really need, in order to give to those in need. What may look like a small choice can still be a hard choice, but you can do it.

Joseph went out in to the crowds heading to Jerusalem in the chaos with a baby due any minute, because it was what the law required, and it was the right thing for him to do. Yes, Joseph had a challenging year, but can you imagine for a minute what he felt like when Jesus was born? That Christmas was just the beginning of hard choices for Joseph.

Christmas is the season of giving and of joy, but it is also the season of hard choices. You only get one Christmas each year. Make the hard choices. Make it the best Christmas ever!

Let Advent begin in you!    : o)  Linda