Holy Family

My heart caught a glimpse of the holy family last week. No one noticed them as I did because they were not what you’d expect. He had an acne-filled face of a nineteen year old college freshman with a bit of a soul patch. Her blond hair coiled about her face while the glitter of her gold pumps flashed in the timid winter sun.

Neither were Jewish or middle eastern but they were a contemporary American Holy Family. Huddled together arm and arm they were poised with all the subtle drama of the first Christmas. At their feet not in a manger but cuddled into a pumpkin car seat lay their sleeping firstborn son. A virgin birth this wasn’t, but an unexpected unplanned pregnancy this was. The arrival of this little guy shattered the life script for these two middle class white students from suburbia America. Yet, the holy family they were.

They were holy not because of they were without fault or sin, but they were holy because of the promise they were making before families, their son, one another and God to be faithful in cherishing one another til death parts them. It was through their promise of a covenant commitment that holiness surrounded this young couple.

I saw the Holy Family reflected in this couple because he couldn’t take his adoring eyes off of her long blond locks, young frame, and subtle curves. His eyes held the promise of passion and compassion.

They were holy and didn’t know it because they were too young to be scared or intimidated about the prospects of the life path before them.

I am so grateful my heart witnessed their love and their little young family because in their promise-making God reminded me of His loving Promise to be with us as one of us... and that is the gift the first Holy Family offered.