Farnsworth Forum

The other day I was babysitting Jacob and Elias while Marisol accompanied Joel and Amelia to Christmas play and choir practice.  The three of us sat on the floor playing with cars and blocks while we listened to Christmas music.  Suddenly I found myself overwhelmed with emotion as I pondered Mary and Joseph's situation and the gift of life that God entrusted to them.  Perhaps the past eleven months of countless diaper changes, sleep deprivation, trips to the pediatrician in Quito (at least two hours away) have piqued my sentimentalism.  That is certainly possible.  At the same time, the events of the first Bethlehem Christmas demand our reflection. Mary must have felt conflicting emotions with the life-threatening news that Gabriel gave her.  Why had God chosen her to give birth to the Savior of the world?  Exiting indeed!  But first. she had to face Joseph with her unorthodox news without being able to predict his reaction.  At the time in Hebrew culture having a c