When Mary found out that she was pregnant, she nearly fainted. How could this be? I was only with the guy one time, she thought. Alone and scared, Mary didn’t know what to do. For months she did what the doctor told her to do, but she also hid her growing belly from the world. Mary’s co-workers noticed the changes in her attire but didn’t question it too much. They figured that maybe she was trying to find a new look for herself. After all, they looked at her as a shy and somewhat quirky young woman.
Mary lived alone in a small one-bedroom apartment, and her income was limited. She tried to buy things a little at a time in preparation for the baby but still didn’t have much. The father of her child didn’t know as of yet, and she wasn’t sure if she should even tell him. Mary had only one good friend that she grew up with, but even telling her about the baby worried her. If I tell her that I’m pregnant and have no husband, she might not want to be my friend anymore, Mary thought.
One night around midnight, Mary was woken by a light so bright that it lit up her whole bedroom. She quickly sat up and tried to shield the light from her eyes with her hand.
“Who’s there?” Mary asked.
As Mary pulled the blankets up to her chest, she tried to see who was in her room. Suddenly a figure all in white appeared in the light and glided up to the foot of her bed.
“Mary, don’t be afraid. For you are blessed with the child that will one day grow up to save the world,” the white figure said.
Scared and confused, Mary held the blankets tight, “what do you mean? Who are you?”
“I am an angel of God, and I am here to tell you that everything will be alright. When the time comes you will know what to do. And fear not, for you will not be alone. God will watch over you as he always has.”
Before Mary could grasp everything that the angel had said, he was gone. The bright light gradually disappeared and her bedroom went back to normal. She looked around and didn’t see anyone or any sign that anyone was ever there, except for her. She jumped out of bed and rushed through the rest of her apartment looking into every open space.
“It had to be a dream… Yes, I was dreaming,” Mary stopped in the middle of her living room.
As she pondered what she dreamt, a flash of light from outside her living room windows caught her eye. She ran over to them to see. When she knelt down on the sofa to gaze out the window, she saw the twinkle of a bright shining star in the sky. Wondering if the star alone could make that flash, she looked down to the city street. Maybe someone was walking with a flashlight, she thought. Mary didn’t see anyone or anything that could have made that flash.
She sat down on her sofa and collected her thoughts. Even though she thought it was only a dream, she got up and checked the lock on her apartment door. Mary then walked back into her bedroom and climbed into bed. As she lay down on her side, she felt the baby kick.
“In due time little one,” Mary rubbed her belly.
As Christmas Eve approached, Mary finished her shift at the factory. Though thankful for her Christmas bonus, it was hardly enough to pay her rent. After cashing her check, she walked to the store that was down the street from her apartment. After picking up another package of diapers for when the baby comes, she looked around for her Christmas Eve dinner. In one of the coolers, she saw some ham sandwiches and grabbed one. It’s only me anyways, she thought. Mary also took out a quart of milk and some chocolate pudding for dessert.
At the checkout counter, Mary unloaded her basket and waited to pay. Before she could, the father of her baby walked up to her.
“Mary? Is that you?”
Nervous that he might see her pregnant belly, she grabbed an empty shopping bag and held it in front of her, “I’ll take one of these too,” she said to the cashier.
“Joseph, how are you?” Mary smiled at him.
“I’m doing good, but you aren’t going to believe this. I had a dream about you the other night,” he said.
“You had a dream of me?” Mary looked at Joseph.
“That’s twenty-five, fifty,” the cashier said.
“Here, I’ve got it,” Joseph handed the cashier a fifty-dollar bill.
“You don’t have to do that,” Mary grabbed the two bags of groceries.
“I know, but I want to. I’ve been thinking about you ever since I had that dream.”
Joseph took his change from the cashier and walked with Mary to the store’s front door. He pushed open the door for her and held it so that she could walk through.
“I suppose that you have big plans for tonight, being Christmas Eve and all?” Joseph asked.
Mary, hung her head, “no, it’s just me, and thank you for buying my groceries.”
“Oh, you’re welcome… Would you like to have dinner with me?” Joseph looked at Mary.
“Umm, I don’t know,” Mary held the bags close to her.
“Here, let me walk you home,” Joseph reached for a bag.
“I got them, thank you,” Mary held the bags tighter to her waist.
“Please, let me. After all, you should be taking it easy in your condition,” Joseph held his hand out.
Mary stopped and looked at Joseph, “you know?”
“Yes, no offense, but you’re as big as my house,” Joseph smiled.
Mary grinned and handed Joseph the two bags of groceries, “so what brings you to this part of town anyways?”
“Well, it just so happens that I was on my way over to your place but stopped at the store for a bottle of wine. But I see that I don’t need the wine now.”
Mary smiled and shook her head no, “why were you coming over? You never called me after our first date?”
“I know, and I’m sorry about that. The only excuse I have is my final exams. I needed to get focused if I wanted to graduate.”
“So, did you graduate?” Mary asked.
“Yes, you’re talking to the new doctor in town. Well, intern right now,” Joseph smiled.
“Congratulations. I’m sure that you will be a great doctor.”
“Thank you, Mary. That means a lot.”
Joseph walked Mary all the way up to her third-floor apartment. She invited him in but couldn’t offer him much. He looked around while she put her groceries away, and saw a bassinet. The satiny white fabric had yellowed some but it was still in good shape. Joseph picked up a soft baby blanket from within the bassinet when Mary walked in from the kitchen.
“That was mine when I was a baby. My mother gave it to me before she died a few years ago,” Mary walked over by Joseph.
Joseph smiled and looked at Mary, “I want to help you, Mary. I want to raise this baby with you.”
“What are you talking about? I haven’t seen you in nine months,” Mary turned and walked away.
“Mary, I know, but I’m in a good place in my life and I know that I can help you. I want to get to know you again. It’s not that I didn’t like you. I liked you from the day we met. Please, let me into your life again,” Joseph walked up behind her.
Just then, Mary grabbed her stomach and dropped down to her knees. Joseph grabbed ahold of Mary’s arm and helped her to the sofa.
“I’ll call the ambulance,” Joseph reached into his pocket. “I lost my cell phone… Where’s your phone?”
“I don’t have phone service,” Mary gasped, “I couldn’t pay the bill.”
“What about your neighbor’s? They have phone’s right?” Joseph asked.
“Please don’t leave me,” Mary reached out to him.
Joseph reached out and held onto Mary’s hands while she breathed through another contraction. Then to make her more comfortable, he got the pillows from her bed and put them behind her. Mary relaxed the best that she could and breathed through each contraction. It was almost like she knew what she had to do. She talked to Joseph and reassured him that they can deliver the baby together. After all, he is almost a general practitioner.
With every contraction and every hour, the time got closer to Christmas. Joseph dabbed Mary’s head with a cool cloth and held her hand when she asked. Mary smiled at Joseph and felt confident that everything was going to be okay. Tonight and every day for the rest of their lives. Just before Mary had another contraction, someone knocked on her door.
“Who could that be?” Joseph got up and answered it.
“Hi, is Mary here?”
“Maggie?” Mary called out.
Joseph stepped back and invited Maggie in. Maggie saw Mary on the sofa and rushed over to her,
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Maggie held Mary’s hand.
“I was scared. I know how strict we were brought up,” Mary looked at Maggie.
Joseph stood by them and cleared his throat.
“Maggie, this is Joseph. He was that date I had about nine months ago. He’s been here helping me tonight.”
Maggie smiled at Joseph, “nice to meet you.”
Just then, Mary knew that it was time with this last contraction. She held onto Maggie’s hand while Joseph knelt down to help the baby emerge. Even though Mary looked pained, the feeling of peace and joy filled the room. At 12 am, December 25th when Joseph placed the baby boy on Mary’s stomach, the three of them rejoiced and thanked God.
Mary looked at Maggie and Joseph with a smile and said, “this child is here to spread joy and hope to all mankind… Merry Christmas.”
Please join me again next week for another story from my: Tis The Season Stories series. If you enjoyed this story, please share it, thank you.
This is a wonderful rendition of the birth of baby Jesus.