[M] Oh Gabe, such excitement on that most glorious day, the betrothal. It was in the year 3755, the Invaders called it 747, during the warm month of Sivan. I was thirteen years of age. For such a long time Rivka and I had laughed and wondered of our future. What was to become of us, what kind of life?
As I now reflect upon those days long past, I know that my dear mother, Anne, had been preparing me for that moment. It began as all others. Rising from pallet I washed, prayed, went about feeding the chickens. As ordinary, my father, Joachim, must have already been out in the village when Mother beckoned to me. We sat upon the doorstep. Holding my hand close to her heart, smiling, she said, “Yosef.”
With a sparkle in her eyes, I was made aware that she had already spoken to Rachel, Yosef’s mother, and my betrothal was as well as assured.
Gabe, perhaps you have knowledge of the ways and powers of Jewish wives and mothers. What you may have heard is only the surface of a shimmering pool. There is so much more. A good wife will always trust in the judgment and decisions of her husband. But remember, many of their ideas were planted, like mustard seeds, to blossom into greatness.
There I go again; now, back to my tale.
Yosef, at the age of twenty years, was already known to be a most industrious and successful man. Any discussions of betrothal would be with resolution between my father and Yosef. But ever the good son, I know that he would have caused his own father, Jacob, to assume rightful participation.
The six of us gathered in a quiet place outside of the village. To my surprise, the rabbi almost immediately came out and greeted us. Somehow, I knew that this was Yosef’s plan. The men prayed as the two mothers and I listened, joining in when proper.
Then the others took leave. As now betrothed, it was fitting to be alone, to ponder things, to speak of hopes, of plans, of a wondrous and magnificent future together.
It was at that time that dear Yosef guided me up a hill just north of where you and I are now seated. Look to the distance, beyond those small inclines and shrubbery. See that rise? That, Gabe, is the most treasured place in all of the earth. There my beloved pledged his love and support. That is our hill, the two of us alone, climbing up there to enjoy the early evening’s breezes. That is the place we so often visited, quietly together to pray, to give thanks, to dream.
He spoke to me of many things that day. As we looked to the west, so close, we could see my place of birth, Sepphoris. And so much farther away was the Great Blue Sea. Then to the east, that fishing place called Lake of Gennesaret. Yosef promised adventures and sojourns to cities like Caesarea and to even more distant sites.
[G] Miryam, you are laughing?
[M] Forgive me, but I could not hold myself. Such a recall, as my darling Yosef spoke of distant adventure, I had no possible thought that, in such a short time, his promises would also include far away Egypt! That is a story for later.
Yosef presented to me a most precious gift, a finely carved box trimmed in silver. It has never left my side, never in all of our travels. Even in Bayt Lahm, wrapped in soft cloth that box was laid at the side of my new dear baby, Yeshua. I know that my son found comfort that the Lord of the Universe had chosen well by selecting my Yosef to be as a father to him; to protect, guide, and teach the ways of a proper Jewish man. I shall show that gift to you in a little while.
Let us now, Gabe, feed the small animals and take a walk about the village. I want to show off my new friend.