Once upon a time, in a far away land…

Yep, you're in the right place.

It's Friday Fun. But I have a preschooler and two toddlers. We love fairy tales...and truth be told, I loved fairy tales before kids.

But here's my favorite story:

Once upon a time, in a far away land, there was a teenage girl. She wasn't a princess. Truth be told, she wasn't very pretty.

But she was a very, very sweet girl. And she was betrothed to an older man...a carpenter who was very kind.

But then that sweet teenage girl was found to be pregnant, and the kind carpenter decided to break off the engagement.

Do you know this story?

Does it sound familiar?

Because it really is a wonderful love story. Oh, not the girl and her carpenter, although Mary and Joseph’s story is very sweet.

It’s the love story of a king who loved a princess so very much…that He was willing to send his son to die for her.

I’m that princess….and so are each of my daughters…and each of your sons. Yeah, I know that sounds weird. God is the King of…well, the King of Everything. And we are his children, and His Beloved.

And if you think this is a fairy tale, remember that all fairy tales hold at least a grain of truth. And this story holds more than a grain. It is the Truth.

The carpenter is kept from breaking the betrothal. And the teenager has her child:

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2, NKJV)

And the proof that this is a story about a King and his beloved, and saving that beloved:

For God so loved the world that he sent His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, NKJV)

Over the weekend, I am hoping that Lil Bit and I will have plenty of opportunities to discuss what Christmas is all about. I hope that you have a blessed weekend leading up to a wonderful Christmas (although I may sneak in a time or two before Tuesday!)