The Writers' Circle

December 25 of the Year of 2 B.C.

Dear Uncle Samuel,

I hope this letter finds you well.  It's been over 9 months since I wrote you because I've been very busy.  Ever since we relocated to Bethlehem, our lives have been turned upside down.  The city folks here in Bethlehem are very different from the hillbillies in Nazareth.  They have sophisticated taste with their furniture and they want the latest style for their dining tables, chairs and lockers and kitchen cabinets...and they have the money to spend.  So I have more orders than I can handle, and with Mary late into her pregnancy, I have to take care of all the house chores as well.  It's been a very hectic nine months for us.

Now, hear the good news!  Mary gave birth to a baby boy shortly past twelve last night.  He's healthy, got all the fingers and toes and a penis (the first thing I checked!)  He's a bit too quiet...hasn't cried even once since he was born, but we're not complaining.  Both Mary and I needed the rest.

It's quite a night!  The midwife didn't show up when Mary was starting to go into labor, so I brought her to the Holy Day Inn several blocks down the street in a wheel barrel!  I was hoping that we might get some help there.   Fortunately, the old waitress there said she knew a thing or two about birthing and she could help.  But as all the rooms of the inn were taken up (this is the peak season for tourists), we had to go to the stable.  I've actually built a beautiful crib but I couldn't bring it on the wheel barrel so we put the baby in a trough for the night.  Around here, they call it a "manger"...these city folks have all sorts of fancy names!

We got home early this morning and now Mary and the baby are resting comfortably.  By the way, we named our son "Jesus".   It's not my idea.  It's a strange name to me.  Mary said the name "Jesus" was whispered to her during one of her dreams and she decided that we should name our son "Jesus".  As I said it's not my idea.  It sounds like something people would say when they swear..."Stinking old cheeses!"  I don't know.  I suppose I'll have to get used to the sound of it...Jesus!

There's something about Mary that I couldn't quite put my fingers on.  When we first met, she said she was a virgin and that she would like to stay that way until we got married.  I said that would be fine and dandy.  Then as soon as we got engaged, she told me she was pregnant!  She said she had a dream and in that dream an angel named "Gabriel" told her she's bearing a divine child.  I found all that rather hard to swallow, but I do love my Mary, and no matter where and how this baby came about, I would love him as if he's my own flesh and blood.  I didn't tell you this before because I was afraid you would call me a damned fool and that I should find out who this Gabriel was and knock his head off!  Anyway, this is all water under the bridge now.  Mary and I are madly in love with each other, and we are planning for our next child, very soon!

Oh, I almost forgot!  Something else happened at the stable last night that's weird:  All through the night, children from the neighborhood came and sang while holding candles around our baby.  I had no idea why they did that or who was paying them.  And then three guests staying at the inn came to the stable.  They said they rode on their camels from faraway just to see our son Jesus.   They said they were kings from some countries in the East.  They left us a few trinkets wrapped up very nicely which they called "Christmas presents".  I don't know what that means.  It's the first time anyone heard of "Christmas".  These men behaved rather strangely.  I bet they had a little too much to drink at the bar.

Uncle, something fishy is going on and I think you should know.  Just a short while ago, we heard rumors from the streets that King Herod has sent his spies to check on all the newborns in Bethlehem.  I don't know what he's looking for.  I hope our baby is not in any danger.  We'd hate to have to move.  We've just got used to this place.  I'll let you know when I find out more. This is all for now.  I wish you a Happy New Year!  

Joseph