Jesus was as enthralled as I by the stories of Adonai. He would sit on my lap and listen with wonder. My previous young charge had been just the opposite of Jesus. His attention wandered from a story quickly, and he would run off looking for something else to explore. I couldn't remember the kids I played with as a child being willing to attend so raptly at such a young age. Even I, who was trained to listen and learn, had not listened with such awe and rapture when my mother told stories.

When Jesus would tire of listening, his play would mimic the stories he had heard. He tried to catch flies so he could make a plague. He drew a wiggly line in the sand and then placed a palm-print across it, commanding, "Stop, water! Adonai say!"

After a few days of listening to Mary, I had no better idea how to receive a message from Adonai. Mary said you just talked to him like you would a brother. I told her that no god would want to be addressed the way I spoke to my brother.

She just smiled. "Speak to Him the way you would like for your brother to speak to you. He wants to have a relationship with His people."

"I am not one of his people," I reminded.

"He made all of us. We Hebrews are His chosen people, but we were selected to bring the message of Adonai to all nations because any man, or woman, can choose to be one of Adonai's people."

"That isn't the impression I got from the spiritual advisers in Herod's palace."

Her eyes clouded and her smile dimmed. "Too many of my people have forgotten that the covenant Adonai made with Father Abraham stated that his descendants were to be a blessing to all nations and lead  them to worship our God."

"You seem to have a special relationship with your god," I answered. "How did that happen?"

Mary found no words to explain the unerring faith she had in her god, but as she spoke, I recognized that my steadfast belief in my mother's prophecy was akin to her confidence in Adonai. Thus, it was because of our discussions that I decided to confide in the young mother. I perceived that time was running out, and if a god would not guide my mission, then I would have to divulge my assignment to Mary in hopes that she would respond to the kindred spirit I felt.

I waited until Joseph was hard at work and Jesus was napping to speak of the danger and how I knew of it. I explained my mother's gift and how she had prepared me for a time when I would be of service to an infant king. I described how I was sold into slavery with the distinct intention of placement in Herod's court.

Mary listened with rapt attention as I explained the inexplicable and voiced the unimaginable. When my speech halted, she said softly, "I knew Adonai had brought you here. I felt 'my spirit take wing.'" She borrowed the terminology of my mother. "Now it is my turn to reveal the unfathomable and articulate a mystery too great for the human mind to grasp. For you see, the vision your mother had of a king and a god – are one."

No wonder she listened without censure. My tale tamed beside the one she told. She informed me that when Jesus referred to Adonai as Daddy, the child was not speaking figuratively. She narrated a tale filled with heavenly messengers and an immaculate conception.

"Are you saying that Adonai is Jesus's father, not Joseph?"

"I am. I was as dumbfounded as you when the angel came to me and told me that I had been chosen to bear God's child. Who was I to be singled out? What would I tell Joseph? How could I have a child without sleeping with a man?"

"The angel assured me that Adonai was not limited in the way humans are. He could handle my puny problems. All I had to was trust, and so I did."

"You make it sound so simple. I have tried meditating all of my life in hopes of receiving a message from the gods. But to bear a god's child. I don't think I could believe such a thing if I were in your place."

She shrugged. "Adonai has spoken to my spirit all of my life. As a young child Jesus's age, I remember watching ants as they scurried about on the ground. I imagined myself as an ant looking up at me. I knew the ant would be unable to comprehend me. I was too big, but he might recognize that a watcher was above him. I looked up at the heavens and thought, 'Adonai is the watcher. I can't know him any better than the ant knows me, but he's watching over me.' I've never lost the assurance I felt then. If Adonai had chosen me, then he was watching over me and would take care of me and my child."

"You're lucky that you were betrothed to a man of equal faith."

"Well, Joseph considered not marrying me. The angel had to appear to Joseph. He didn't exactly take my word for it." She laughed. "I didn't really blame him. It was a bit far fetched."

"So you and Joseph were expecting the Magi?"

"Not really. We knew Jesus was special. His birth was announced to some shepherds by a choir of angels."

"I overheard what you two told the Magi about Jesus's birth. I suspected at the time that Joseph left out some of the details."

"He did. We have to be careful what we say. These are perilous times. He wasn't sure if he could completely trust our visitors, even though they came bearing costly gifts and professing to believe in the importance of our son's birth. After all, they did stop at Herod's court, and Herod is not to be trusted."

"Would you be willing to tell me the details?"

Mary got a faraway look in her eyes, as though she were listening to a distant voice. Finally she spoke. "Yes, I sense that I should. I've been holding these things in my heart waiting for a chance to share."

I sat on the edge of my seat, honored that she would trust me with things so dear to her.

"When the shepherds came, they were so excited. They said a shining celestial being appeared to them as they were preparing to bed down in the fields. They were afraid, but the being told them there was nothing to fear. The angel told them, 'Do not be afraid for I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all peoples; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."

As she spoke, a tear ran down her face. I perceived that it was a tear of joy.

"They said a whole assembly of angels then appeared and sang a song." In a pure voice she sang, "Glory to God Most High and on earth peace to men who honor him."

Silence reigned when she stopped singing. Finally I found my voice. "That's incredible. How can you keep such great news bottled up inside."

"It hasn't been easy, but I have to protect Jesus. Now is not the time to reveal his identity. Adonai will take care of that in his own time. I have only shared this with you because I am certain you were sent by God. I do not know why, but I'm sure he sent you."

If I had not been present when the Magi came, had not seen the royal star with my own eyes, and had not beheld a child just under two years bless men of learning with his simple understanding, I would have doubted Mary's account. It was filled with the stuff of legend not truth; yet, I could not doubt Mary any more than she could doubt me.

Thus, I was surprised by the conclusion she reached.

"I believe you when you say that Herod is a danger to Jesus. I will tell Joseph what you have shared, but we will not leave this place unless Adonai directs."

"But, Mary, is not my presence an indication that Adonai wants you to leave? You said yourself that your son is divine. You admitted he was laid in a manger. You say your great King David referred to Adonai as a shepherd. Therefore, the dream my mother had of my bringing a lamb-god to Egypt fits. Until I heard your story, I did not realize that the lamb-god and the infant king were one and the same."

"Adonai sometimes uses those who are dedicated to other gods," Mary admitted.

"According to Herod's spiritual advisers, the words the Magi quoted from your holy writings were not spoken by your prophet Moses but by the Oracle Balaam. Could not the words spoken to my mother have been directed by Adonai through a seer dedicated to Thoth?"

"Anything is possible with Adonai, but Joseph and I have been directed by God up to this point. Unless we both agree that Adonai has spoken, we will stay here in Bethlehem. My people's experiences in Egypt have rarely been positive."

With that I had to be content. I could tell that further arguing would make her less inclined to listen, not more. I had told my story. It was now up to Adonai to convince the couple that they and their son needed to flee to Egypt.