And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Luke 2:12 (KJV)
Jesus’ parents swaddled Him! Was it by divine inspiration, or because it was a traditional way to soothe and keep babies warm as they adjust to life outside the womb? I don’t know. However, swaddling a newborn shows Joseph and Mary were mindful parents. They thought of their newborn’s comfort and safety. Studies show that swaddling reduces the risk for Sudden Infant Death, it helps the newborn fall asleep, and it is one way to soothe a crying baby in the first 6 to 8 weeks of life.
Joseph and Mary taught us something important about infant care- we must keep the newborn’s comfort in mind when we feed, bathe, clothe, or put them to sleep.
If swaddling was done based on tradition, we could also learn from Joseph and Mary’s value for the previous generations’ way of parenting. It reminds me of Proverbs 22:28. I love The Passion Translation of that scripture: The previous generation has set boundaries in place. Don’t you dare move them just to benefit yourself.
While the previous generation is not without flaws, there are core family values rooted in Bible principles we should not dare move. This generation struggles with conforming to what’s popular. Conforming to the world’s way of parenting is easy, and it can make us popular. However, the consequences of conforming or moving the boundaries the previous generation has set are costly in the long run.
Regarding Jesus, Luke 2:51 (NLT) says, “Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.” Joseph and Mary were responsible for parenting Jesus. They modeled how to train up a child in the way he should go. In this plan, Temi Michael-O shares lessons from Joseph and Mary’s journey to parenthood.
Would you like to become a member of God’s family? Please say the prayer below and let me know about it here.
Say this: Heavenly Father,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe you exist and you sent Jesus to die for me. I receive your love and forgiveness. Reveal yourself to me. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Amen
Welcome to God’s family!
New Listings and More on Shop Christian Mommas
Author: Temi Michael-O
Temitope Michael-Olaniran (Fafore) is a wife and #boymom. She is the author of A Christian Mother’s Creed. She created this space to share spiritual experiences of motherhood, provide emotional support to families and develop a virtual community where Christian mothers can share Biblical viewpoints on parenting and other aspects of life.
As a lifelong learner with a passion for mental health, Temi is a PhD student (Infant and Early Childhood Development specializing in Mental Health and Developmental Disorders). She is a Perinatal, Infant, and Early Childhood Mental Health consultant, Certified New Parent Educator, trained Postpartum Doula, and U.S. Army veteran.
Click here to contact Temi
Thanks for emphasizing how Mary and Joseph tenderly cared for our Savior as a baby. One can only imagine the challenges they faced being away from home!
Thank you for sharing. Meery Christmas!