He Found Favour in Her – The Telling

Hello! I’m excited to be posting the second part of my Christmas story He Found Favour in Her today! I hope you all enjoy it! 🙂 Click here to read Part 1: The Message

~

The Telling

How do I make them understand? Mary stood in front of her parents, eyes downcast, hands tightly clasped.

“You’re saying that an angel came to you, and told you that you would have a child?” Mary’s mother disbelievingly questioned her.

“Yes. It is the truth”

“Enough!” Mary’s father stepped over to where his daughter was standing, and took her by the shoulders, forcing her to look up into his angry face. “Who is the father? A soldier? Who?!” His voice trailed away as he looked deep into his daughter’s dark eyes. “Stop lying and tell me the truth…. Now!”

“I have told you how it happened. That is the truth.” Mary’s calm voice betrayed none of the fears that clenched so tightly in her stomach. She had never seen her father this angry.

“Oh, I have had enough with this girl!” Her father angrily turned away, the tautness of his back clearly displaying his disappointment and anger. The room was silent for a stiff minute.

Then her Mother’s teary voice cut through the tension. “Mary, you know that- that you could be killed because of this?!”

“Yes.”

“Then why don’t you tell us the truth? Your stories are childish, you are a woman now!” her mother wailed.

“I have told you the truth. It is not a story.” Mary answered. Oh, how I wish this was over!

“And how are we going to tell Joseph?!” Her father turned toward her again. “He is an upstanding and righteous man. How could you do this to him? You know he could lawfully have you stoned for being unfaithful?!”

“You may tell him. I want to go to visit Cousin Elizabeth for a month or so. If I may…”

“What?!” Her parents turned away together, and a hasty, whispered conversation ensued. Then they slowly turned back, their pain etched deeply on their worn faces. Her Mother replied “It may be for the best. You may go.”

“Thank you.” As Mary turned towards the door, she faced her parents one more time. “Everything I have told you is true.”

Her parents just stared at her sadly. She ducked her head and slipped outside.

Lord God, I’m trying to do the right thing, but it’s so hard! Why did you pick me? How do I help them understand? And what about Joseph?

~

See you right back here tomorrow for part 3!