Long ago, Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth. Mary was expecting Jesus, the Son of God, when an order from the Roman emperor meant they had to travel away from home.
Emperor Augustus ordered a census—a registration of the people. Joseph belonged to the family line of King David, so he went from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s town. Mary, who was pledged to be married to Joseph, went with him.
Luke does not tell us how they travelled or describe each day along the way. We can imagine that such a journey while expecting a baby would not have been easy. Yet this journey brought them to Bethlehem, where Jesus would be born.
An ordinary journey became part of the extraordinary story of Christmas.
For families today, their journey can be a starting point for talking about patience and caring for one another. We cannot always make a long journey or a difficult wait shorter, but we can make it kinder.
Talk together: What helps you be patient when a journey or a wait feels long?
Try this today: Choose one way to help someone while you wait—share a story, offer a kind word, or ask whether they need a hand.
Bible reference: Luke 2:1–5. This is a short retelling followed by a family reflection.
Continue the Christmas Story Together
The Miracle of ChristmasExplore the story of Jesus’ birth with The Miracle of Christmas: A Meaningful Coloring Book About Jesus’ Birth, by Rogério Santos. Share a Bible story, colour together, and talk about the meaning of Christmas with your children. |
