Chapter 6

A few weeks had gone and it had been confirmed that Mary was pregnant. It came as a bomb to her parents and definitely Joseph. Mary had known within her that she was carrying the Messiah, pregnant with God's son. She didn't want this for herself and not for anyone she knew. Accepting God's plan for her life wasn't to become pregnant at sixteen. She had been chosen and she was going to do what the Lord wanted for her life. She wasn't raised to question God's decisions, who was she? It wasn't going to be easy but she knew God worked in ways that man could not see. Her parents had questioned her and she had sat them down for the truth. Her father had left in anger and returned a day after. His baby girl pregnant with God's child! He had planned out her life. Her graduation, her marriage, her first job in a law firm, but that possible now? They didn't want to believe what she had told them but she was pregnant already and there was nothing they could do about

They had heard the prophecies about a virgin mother giving birth to the Messiah who would change the world and fight for a better tommorow but why had God chosen their baby daughter.

'Are you sure of what you are saying?' She nodded her head and looked at her father. 'This can't be happening! You are a child, incapable of labour. No Lord, no.' Her father was incapable of hiding his feelings. He had cried and shot cold stares at Mary. He trusted the Lord with all things but this was too sudden and out of place. What was to become of Mary? If the word were to come out that she was pregnant, her whole house would be castigated and reproached.

Mary sat on her bed and imagined life as the mother of the saviour. She knew God was watching over her and her child. She was going to be fine and Jesus was going to be the one to deliver the world. She was going to guard him jealously and with all her heart. He was going to be her hope and her deliverer. She lay down and picked her phone from the bedside table. Joseph had not called her in a while, he was probably scared, afraid and  mad at her. She dialled his number and it went to voicemail as it had been over the past weeks.

'I don't know if you ever listen to my messages but I want you to know that I love you. This is God's plan you know, and I can't work against His plan. I don't know why He chose me and I may never know why but I want you to know we are to raise this child together. We are meant to be.' She laughed as the word 'meant to be' came out of her. 'I know you think little of me right now and you find it hard to believe that I have never had sex but I still want you to trust me and God. He is the one who put this baby in me. He gave me you and He's going to make you understand. You are going to believe, Joseph.' She remained calm and finally said. 'I know you will.' She put the phone down and went to rest. She closed her eyes but opened them again as a dark voice was heard. Do you really think you can be the Messiah's mother? Do you think you will know how to rear and take proper care of God's Son to be King over the world? You are incapable of such! She placed her hand on her tummy guardedly. Although she had heard a voice she knew life was forming right inside her and she had an insane calmness in her soul.

$$$$

'Mary, come out.' Her mother's voice rang through the whole house. Her mother had cried severally and still found it hard to believe that her child was with child. An infant was pregnant with an infant. Mary stood up sluggishly and went to meet her mother in the lounge.

'You called for me.'

'You have a visitor.' Her mother told her to go to the porch. She looked outside and saw Joseph seated on the swing. He looked quite calm and reserved.

'Joseph,' Mary sat beside him. 'How have you been?'

'I have never been better.' He shut his eyes and opened them later, looking at the sky. 'I needed to talk to you. My emotions have been racing and I need to let it all out.' He looked nervous as he spoke. He was trembling and shaking all over his body. 'I am sorry for everything. I didn't mean to leave you hanging. I was scared, angry and selfish. I didn't think about your feelings, only mine.' He sighed then looked at Mary. 'I listened to all your voicemails and I thought you were hallucinating. It just didn't make sense to the common ears. Voices were in my head, violent ones. They kept on telling me not to answer you, to leave you hanging or tell you to have an abortion.' The word abortion hit the two of them hard. Mary couldn't bear having an abortion. Her hands went to her tummy as Joseph continued to talk. 'I felt you didn't want to have sex with me because someone else was satisfying you with it. I was pained. I couldn't sleep.' He paused to take a deep breath. 'Yesterday, I was supposed to be on my way to Nazareth. I wanted to run away and never come back.' Mary sighed and looked at him in pain. Where was he going to with all these? She was about to talk but was cut short. 'Last night as I kept on thinking about you, I couldn't get it. How would a virgin claim be pregnant with God's Child? That was the core of craziness to me but it all changed.' He looked deep into her eyes as he knelt to speak to her. 'I wanted to call off the engagement quietly but a voice came to me. A man in shimmering white stood in front of me and said, 'Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, take her to your side and care for her and the child in her. She was made pregnant by the Holy Spirit and the child when born will be named Jesus, for he shall deliver His people and make them whole.' I was trembling in fear and delight. I had heard about the Messiah's coming but I never knew I would be the one to father Him,' He kissed her hands and stood to kiss her forehead. 'To father him with you by your side as His mother. That night I had slept peacefully, smiling. I love you Mary and I know we are going to raise Him right in the way of His Father.'

'Oh, Joseph.' She hugged him. 'I am so happy to hear you say this. I knew God would make you believe. I knew you would come around.' She kissed his cheeks and smiled. 'I hope people will believe that He is the one and not cast us out.'

'They would when the time comes. Remember the words of David, 'He who dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty....' He held her tight as he recited the Psalm of David. 'We will not be afraid of the terror of the night, for God will order his angels to protect His son. The Lord will guard him. We are going to work this out. I promise you.'

Dark laughter surrounded them as they held themselves. You, a simple carpenter, claiming to be something you are not and you a simple Pennsylvanian girl, pregnant out of wedlock. Who would believe you? How would you guard him? He'd fall into my snare soon. Very soon, you won't expect it.

The darkness rolled back and Joseph saw the stars as they shone brightly. They were going to make this work together with the help of God. The night was still and calm and they smiled knowing God was watching over them; the three of them.