Christmas and Work: The Work of Parenting

As we move through the Christmas story in Luke, once again we come upon work related to children. In Luke 1, Elizabeth gave birth to John. In Luke 2, Mary gave birth to the baby Jesus. Luke tells us that, after Jesus was born, Mary also “wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them” (2:7). 

This passage underscores two truths about work. First, it reminds us that giving birth, though an absolutely crucial aspect of human work, is just the beginning of a much longer process of raising children. Mary didn’t just deliver Jesus into this world and then go back to her otherwise unchanged life. Rather, she also began to care for Jesus, wrapping him in cloths and laying him in a manger. The work associated with children begins with birth, but continues on for years as men and women do the work of raising children.

Second, we might wonder why Joseph didn’t do the wrapping and “mangering” of Jesus. In fairness to Joseph, he may well have been preoccupied with other essential tasks (cleaning up, placing new hay in the manger, etc.). Or, perhaps in first-century Jewish culture the mother always wrapped her baby. Today, husbands and fathers are more deeply engaged in the work of parenting. Birth may still be primarily women’s work, but raising children is the duty, privilege, and calling of both mothers and fathers. 

With the birth of John and the birth of Jesus, the Christmas story in Luke reminds us that giving birth and raising children is central to human work. No matter what you do for a living, if you have children, especially children who are not yet adults, then being a father or mother is an indispensable element of the work to which God has called you. If you do not have children of your own, you are indispensable in the nurture of children in your extended family, church, or neighborhood. Helping children grow in stature, wisdom, skill, kindness, and faith is the work of fathers, mothers, and all brothers and sisters in Christ.