Joseph’s job

Joseph’s job

By Joel Howard

So often has this thought

Left me in perpetual haunt

Jesus savior, Mary’s womb

But just what does Joseph do?

This regret, so deep a loss

Made me search for Joseph’s job

For if Joseph’s dreams came true

I could then find purpose, too

So with meaning on the line

I read the gospel close this time

There was Gabriel, Mary too

But Joseph’s: what are we to do?

So familiar with unending thought

I’m not the Giver, so what’ve I got?

Then I read of David’s line

Joseph’s name - one of a kind

That God would lend to man the role

Of fathering Jesus - That is gold!

I read of Joseph’s faithfulness

His devout uprightness

Of keeping God’s commands all times

Integrity this man defined

Of forcing not his pride when

God conceived his wife instead

Not giving up though failure loomed

When all the landlords had no room

Stead faithfully by her side came

Strong to see the baby laid

Journalist to shepherd’s visit

Awed, marveling just to hear it

Grinned, no doubt, wept for awe

Kings afar when gifts they brought

I think that the job of man

Just like Joseph, is to stand

Not to win a God-like prize

But to serve, and for Him die

To be strong, and that afar

To take notes, to gaze, to awe

Ours as men to worship is

Just the job, like Joseph’s giv’n

To carry names that are not ours

To go with loved ones near and far

To give and give unseen when

The Giver wants to enter in

To lay down pride and instead of sin

Silent, far, to give again

Joseph’s job? For God to win!

Ours too, should we let Him