Three Days: A Mother's Story Read Online Free

gotten home.
    Fortunately for me, the garden had been neglected during my absence and there was much to be done in order to bring it back into the pristine condition I always tried to maintain. It provided a good distraction for me during that long day of waiting. And as I weeded I tried to stifle any visions of my being dragged through the streets of Nazareth by Joseph’s indignant family and then thrown down before the village priests and elders as I was accused of my crime—fornication or possibly adultery, since our engagement was a legally binding commitment—and then given my sentence. But sometimes, when I least expected it, this image would flash through my mind with the speed of a cast stone, and all I could do was take in a deep breath and pray.
    I am sure I jumped when I heard Joseph saying my name.
    “Mary?”
    I dropped the piece of twine that I had been about to use to tie up the grape vine that was hanging down in the dirt. Still stooped down like an animal caught in a trap, I glanced over my shoulder. Part of me expected to see his angry brothers clustered behind him, ready to dish out my fate. But Joseph appeared to be alone.
    “Joseph,” I said calmly as I stood straight, wiping my dusty hands on the sides of one of my older tunics, not nearly so fine as what I had worn the night before. Then I pushed a fallen strand of hair back beneath my veil and held my shoulders back and waited.
    “Mary,” he said again, but the tone of his voice was gentle. And then, to my utter astonishment, he fell down on both knees before me, taking my right hand in his. “I am so sorry.”
    “For what?” I asked, longing for him to get back to his feet.
    “For not believing you.”
    I felt my eyes growing large. “But you do believe me now?”
    He nodded. “An angel of the Lord appeared to me last night. It was incredible, Mary. He told me that all that you said is true. He told me many things. He even told me what we are to name our son.”
    “ Our son?” I felt tears filling my eyes. I went down on my knees in front of Joseph.
    “Yes, Mary, our son. We will soon be married, and you will give birth to the Son of God, just as you told me, and I will take care of both of you.”
    “Oh, Joseph!”
    Now, in all honesty, I can say that this is the very moment when I really began to love this man. And this was a love that grew and grew over the years. I know now it was no mistake that God chose sweet Joseph to be my husband and to help me raise and care for our son.
    “I am so sorry,” he said again, and I saw that tears were filling his eyes. “I will never doubt you again.”
    We both slowly rose to our feet, and then we embraced. I still remember the feeling of his strong arms around me. I knew that this good man was able to protect me. I remember the deep sigh of relief that escaped my lips just then.
    And then we stepped apart. I think we were both slightly embarrassed by our first open display of affection for one another. But I knew that something miraculous had happened in that moment. I knew that God had knit our hearts together as one. And just as I felt encouraged when my cousin Elizabeth had believed in me, I felt even more so now with my betrothed.
    “We will marry as soon as possible,” Joseph told me as I wiped my tears.
    “Joseph?” I said suddenly.
    “Yes, dear one?”
    “What is his name?”
    “Jesus,” Joseph said with authority. “His name is to be called Jesus.” Then he looked down upon me with the most tender expression I had ever seen, and I knew without doubt that my future would be safe in the hands of this man—and in the hands of Jehovah.
    Tonight, as much as I longed for that unwavering strength of my good and gentle husband, I am thankful that Joseph did not have to witness the events of this awful day. I fear it would have broken his heart completely. For Joseph always loved Jesus just as dearly as if he had been his own flesh and blood. In fact, there were times when our