Well, ladies and lasses, were you there?

On Christmas morning my mother would always insist that we read the story of the first Christmas from Luke, 2 vs 1 to 20. So I was on to the shepherds being told of the birth and coming to tell Mary and Joseph, I also read enough that in Matthew 2 that there were wise men (Magi) from the East that came to find the promised baby born to be King of the Jews. So we have the story of the news of the birth going to the most common of folk, shepherds and the most special, almost rocket scientists - well, for the time of the Romans anyway. That is pretty much it, but then you weren't there were you? Seems a pretty empty land, town of Bethlehem, Kingdom of Judea and Romans roaming around but only shepherds, angels (in chorus) and three wise men from the East, Mary and Joseph.

What is wrong with this picture? it is on most religious Christmas cards, the children's Christmas pageant has more sheep and animals than humans - doesn't it? But there are hints, Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Now that sounds just right, a young girl going to have her first baby visits a cousin that will soon have her own - women do talk, they do go find out about stuff - not like a man never asking always pretending to know. It couldn't have been possible that you were written out of the story? You could have been traveling to Bethlehem with Joseph and Mary - just going in that direction (David had lots of wives and lots of decedents, twenty-eight generations worth!). Ever see women ignore another woman carrying a child? They always ask how she feels, about when she would be due to have the baby, where she is going, does she need anything? There were women, children and men going along that would have talked to Joseph and Mary, given sound advice and assistance as needed. Joseph didn't need any, he was a guy - and he would find Bethlehem soon enough without asking directions.

Well, this crowd gets to the little very important town, and find places to rest up - some would still be sleeping on the ground. Mary and Joseph get shelter - she is going to have a child, and other women are called in to assist in the birth -- that got written right out of history. Now, I know that women can have children all by themselves, it isn't easy but can happen. But even in a small town those that do understand hospitality (and that is a real sign of civilization) would be sure the local wise women and midwife would know and be attentive. There are rules about birth in the Bible, most misunderstood by men since it isn't really where they get to shine. So people the picture of the new mother, Mary, surrounded by women caring for her and encouraging her, bringing the swaddling clothes, cleaning mother and child, informing Joseph the boy was born as he heard the birth cry.

You can tell that the disciples were men, the writers of the Gospels were men, the leaders of the church that chose the stories to repeat, were men. For they put in the important parts of God and Man, and forgot the women - mostly - Jesus never did, from his mother to all the women that he taught and traveled with - they were always there. I suggest that we put them back into his birth scene again - or just remember that because women really care, they would always be there. They have always peopled my personal Christmas's, even if only in my mind and heart while we were apart.