(Author unknown)
I had a dream, Joseph.
I don’t understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son. I think that was what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for about six weeks. They had decorated the house and bought new clothes. They’d gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts. It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren’t for our Son. They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their house. They’d decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on the top of the tree. It looked like an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful. Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not our Son. I don’t think they even knew Him. They never mentioned His name. Doesn’t it seem odd for people to go through all that trouble to celebrate someone’s birthday if they don’t know Him? I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration he would have been intruding. Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so full of cheer, but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus – not to be wanted at His own birthday celebration. I’m glad it was only a dream.
How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real.
Stray Thoughts 
Just wanted to say that I didn’t post this because I think the trees and such of Christmas are wrong, but rather because this was a thoughtful piece because of how our celebrations might look to Mary and because it is possible for us to be so caught up in everything else at Christmas that we do forget it is all about Him.
Also, Jesus was indeed God’s Son and not Joseph’s biological son, but I think it would have been quite common for Mary to refer to Him as “our son” to Joseph. Many families with step-parents would do that.
It is a wonderful and thoughtful post my friend. I enjoyed reading it 🙂
When I teach Sunday School at Christmas time I always remind the children that when they wake Christmas morning they should always take time — before they hop out of bed — to wish Jesus a happy birthday and thank him for this day. After that they are free to go and enjoy.
It may be too late to teach the grownups, but if we can get the children ….
It wasn’t a dream; it was a nightmare.
I was thinking the same thing Sally said. I’ve been reminding people left and right that if “my” Jesus hadn’t been BORN that day – and if the world didn’t set it’s calendar by THAT day – that they wouldn’t even have the day OFF that day!!! (much less get presents!)
Thanks for this wonderful thought. I plan to use it for my Women’s Bible Study group Christmas party tomorrow night. What a good reminder of the true meaning of the Christmas season. Thanks for sharing it. Linda
This was a terrific post…but very sad, too. It is sad because I was raised this way. I mean, I knew it was Jesus’s birthday, but Christmas Day came and went without even a mention of Him. Now since I am a parent, we have tried to focus on the real meaning of Christmas with our children. Hopefully they will pass this on….