Disclaimer: I don't own the Bible and I didn't write any of it... obviously.
"Mary!" yelled my mother throughout the house. "Oh Mary come quickly! Your father has just told me the most wonderful news."
I smiled to myself and quietly laid down the clothes I was mending. I already knew what she was talking about and my heart leapt with anticipation. Joseph had made his intentions clear to me only two days ago. To put it in the simplest yet most complex language, we were in love.
I would always watch him working with his father and brothers, when we would go into town. He was a carpenter and would soon inherit his father's business. He could build anything from chairs to ladders or even doors.
There was no way my father could refuse his request. He was the most handsome, strong, intelligent, kind and godly man in the entire village. I knew Amanda and her group of gossiping girls had been drooling over him ever since we were children, but Joseph chose me; shy, quiet hearted, Mary, to be his wife. I would be Joseph the Carpenter's wife, perhaps if it was God's will, the mother of his children. My smile broadened.
"Mary! Would you come over here? Your father has been speaking to someone and he wants to see you! Oh, hurry up," she said coaxing me away from my needle and thread. I needed no coaxing through, trust me.
"There you are Mary," my father said smiling even more broadly than I was. I bowed my head to Joseph. "Joseph has asked for your hand," he began. I looked up to meet Joseph's gorgeous deep brown eyes. "And I… in my infinite wisdom… have consented for you two to be married!"
"If it's alright with you, Mary," the love of my life said.
"Of course," I whispered. He took my hand and kissed it. I stood aside as the bride price was discussed and then Joseph turned to me again.
"Then, if it pleases you Mary, would you come to eat lunch with me tomorrow?"
I looked up at my father, my eyes pleading. "It is no business of mine whether you eat with your betrothed or not," he said.
"Thank you, father," I said.
"Thank you, sir. You truly have made me the happiest man that has ever lived on the earth. I'll take good care of her," Joseph said. My heart beat widely as he kissed my forehead and left.
I felt hot and light-headed as the whole household erupted once he had stepped out of the door. My younger sister, Ashley was happy because now that I was spoken for, it would be her turn. "For goodness sake, Mary, you took long enough to secure yourself a husband," she said.
"Well, at least she is marrying the most handsome man in the entire village. You will be lucky if you end up marrying Harel the butcher!" Leah said.
"At least I'm eligible to be married," she retorted.
"Girls," my father warned. "No more bickering."
"Yes, Father," they said in unison.
"This is a time for Mary," my mother added kindly. "Now, you must hurry and set a date for the wedding! I must have time to make all the necessary arrangements. Oh, dear. I must send word to all our relatives… there's your older sisters and their husbands, your aunts and uncles, cousins…"
"We can arrange for the invitations to be sent out, mother," I said.
"Oh, Mary, you leave it all up to me," she said proudly. She always got like this when one of us got married. By now four of my sisters were married as well as three of my brothers. There was only Ashley, Leah and Alon left.
I never did understand how my father could tolerate my mother. She was always taking control. But I suppose it is a woman's duty to take control of what she can; men are in control of everything except the kitchen. So when my mother had the chance, she took over her daughters. ButI wouldn't allow my mind to dwell on my mothers controlling tendencies. My mind was on tomorrow, and my picnic with Joseph.