are you like Saint Joseph?

Not much is known about the earthly father we know as Saint Joseph, who raised Jesus, other than the few pertinent facts mentioned in the Bible. We know he was a carpenter by trade. We know that he was older than Mary when they were betrothed. We also know that he took a lot on faith in raising Jesus. Take for instance, Mary's initial revelation that she would bear a child. Wouldn't you have had a hard time believing her? Yet Joseph took her into his home. He raised this child whom others just did not understand. The family needed to flee Bethlehem and Herod's jealous rage and became exiles in Egypt, a land unknown to them, until Herod's death. All of this Joseph took on faith. Do you think that he, at times, wondered just what was he doing by accepting such responsibility? He was only human after all!

I know of a couple of fathers who, when they married their gals, also took on the sons of those women. Their lives were hard, and the boys sure made life more difficult by their actions at times. Yet they knew that when they married, they also took on the added responsibility, for better or for worse. Through many worse days, they hoped for better and when the better days came, you can bet they were grateful for them!

How about you? When have you accepted a situation, not knowing its outcome but doing it because it was the right thing to do? It doesn't necessarily have to be rearing another's children, although that is a pretty special vocation in itself! It can be caring for an elderly relative, maybe taking a lower wage job to be with your children more...the sacrifices that we make now determines our future. It is our attitudes regarding those responsibilities that matter most. What is your attitude like? Do you exude faith, compassion and kindness...or is your heart bitter over what you perceive as your lot in life?
Think about the impact that you will make. Like a ripple in the water, your actions today can affect the course of history later on. Are you ready for the challenge?