Emergency funds (Anne eventually came around)-check. They took care of the practical aspects of travel.

But Mary and Joseph knew what was right for them and their child.

She was ferociously opposed to the newlyweds’ plans to travel to Bethlehem for the census. Mary’s mother, Anne, doted on her only child. And, as a particular help for me, there are practical examples of action to anchor the mysticism of the 2000-plus-year-old story in the real world of the 21st century. I have always loved this book because something new strikes me-my own series of epiphanies! After the last year’s turbulence, I found some solace in the compassion, understanding, freshness, and faith of this version of the birth of the Christ Child. As the day of the miraculous birth drew closer, all those who were to take part in the greatest story ever told were given the choice whether to sink beneath their fear or to seek salvation.” How could she make him understand that their destiny was to raise the Christ-child together? This classic novel weaves together all the characters of the Nativity, from the gentle strength of Mary and the kindness and loyalty of Joseph through the tempestuous journey of the Three Wise Men and the tragedy of the shepherds to the misery of the Innkeeper and his wife. Not only was the child not his, but moreover, she had never known a man. Just as the three men began their journey, a young girl stood bravely before her betrothed husband in Nazareth, trying to find the words to tell him that she was pregnant. The escaped slave with a tremendous knowledge of languages, Balthazar helped them find their way across hazardous and violent countries to Judea. Providence took him to the barbarian King, Gaspar (think Genghis Khan), who wanted to know if this great King in the East would be a threat to his empire. But Melchior was old, poor and unwise in the ways of men. He knew at once that it was his task to find the child and warn its parents. “Korean astronomer Melchior had never seen anything like it the star was so bright, so full of tragedy and glory. Check out another testimony from her HEREĮvery year, since I was a teenager (with a short break when I went off to university and moved away from home for the first time), I have spent the Christmas Season reading a remarkable novel by Norah Lofts called How Far To Bethlehem”.

Norah lofts how far to bethlehem