The Story of Headless Joseph
By C F Lilek
For many years, our family Nativity set consisted of a battered, but much loved over group of paper-mache figurines. Our first child, Andrew, was very "oral" and loved to put everything into his mouth, including the Christmas family and visitors. Our second child, Elizabeth, was very "physical" and loved to play and pretend with everything within her reach, this also included the Holy Family. So, many years went by and all that was left of the Nativity Set was Mary, Joseph, Jesus and a Lamb. And even these were in sorry shape. But, I kept them out for several more years. Until, one year my husband Tim exclaimed, "I can't stand looking at these sorry things any longer! We need to get a new Nativity Set!" I hesitated to agree with him, because they still meant something to me.
"Why are you keeping them any more?" he questioned me.
"Well," I answered "they all stand for something."
"I see…" he said as he picked up the Holy Mother of God "Mary doesn't even have a face. Andy licked it off many years ago!"
"Well, that means we all should be gentle and giving without being recognized for it. Faceless giving, you see."
"Hmmm…," he paused and then asked "Well, how about this Lamb? It doesn't have any legs anymore. What does that supposed to mean?"
"Well," I answered "That means you should get off your feet and rest now and then during the rush of the season."
He smiled and then said "OK, what about Jesus? Beth poked a hole in his back last year. What's a spineless Jesus supposed to stand for?"
I smiled back, "That's signifies how helpless Jesus was as a child and how He proved to us that as He let others care for Him, we should let others care for us."
Tim wrinkled his brow and thought for a few moments and then frowned. "Well, what about Joseph? Andy chewed his head off! How can you go on having a headless father in the Nativity Set?"
Now, I stood speechless for a few moments. I really hadn't thought about headless Joseph too deeply. I mean, it was just good to have him hanging in there, not really doing anything but BE there. But, that's not the sort of thing I'd want to admit to a modern father, who uses his head each and every day to work and grow with his family! So, I didn't have an answer. "I guess, we should get a new nativity set" I mumbled.
"Right" he said.
I threw headless Joseph, spineless Jesus, legless Lamb and faceless Mary in the trash. Then we bought a handmade Nativity Set from one of Tim's co-workers. It is a nice set. The people and animals are jigged out of white pine board, which all fit together like a puzzle when you put it away. They all have heads, legs and two eye holes, but no one has painted faces or clothes. The little cradle represents Jesus and all the pieces can stand by themselves. Very simple, but it is meaningful at the same time. I'm sure the children, including the new baby David will appreciate this group for many Christmas's to come.
Yet sometime I like to remember & thank the old headless Joseph for just being there for so many years!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
