I've been thinking about that first Christmas that occurred so very long ago. I can't help but smile when I think about how, from a human perspective, The first Christmas seemed to capture life entirely, messy. Mary had "plans", thoughts, or expectations for what her life would be like. She would get married, then after a year, or two they would have children. Joseph, no doubt, also had dreams and expectations for his life. He would marry a "nice" Jewish girl and perhaps, once they had saved some money they would have a house and children. They were a good Jewish couple. Then ... God stepped in and suddenly life was very complicated. Sometimes when we are following God, life gets harder. Just like it did for Mary and Joseph. Mary found herself pregnant in a society in which the penalty for this type of "sin" was death, and the only explanation she could give was one that no one would believe. I imagine that Mary must have thought,