#530: The Overlooked Christmas Hero

He’s often overlooked, but he’s one of the most important characters in the Christmas story. Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, is a wonderful example of healthy masculinity in several ways. First, Joseph did the right thing. When he first learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he planned to divorce her quietly, so he wouldn’t shame her. But after being visited by an angel, he chose to trust God and stay with Mary. Second, Joseph protected Jesus, taking him to Egypt to avoid King Herod’s wrath. And finally, Joseph provided for his family. He worked as a carpenter, and taught his son his trade as well. You probably won’t hear much about Joseph this Christmas. Remind your son that the father of Jesus showed trust, a quiet faithfulness, and ultimately played an unspeakably important role in the earthly life of our Savior. For more ideas for raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.