Role Models

In the newspaper yesterday there was a story all about Santa Claus. Apparently he has fallen foul of the Health and Safety Brigade. It would seem that he's now regarded as a rather poor role model for our children and their parents. He encourages everything from obesity and drink driving to risk taking. It would seem that one of his misdemeanours is that he does not wear a seat belt when riding his sleigh? (Although I am not too sure how they know this!!!)
Anyway this got me thinking. Are we in danger of taking our role-models to far. Think about it what kind of role-model is Mary or Joseph?
Joseph was highly irresponsible undertaking a long arduous journey with his betrothed nine months pregnant. He compounded his mistake by not planning ahead and booking an hotel at a time when he could expect the town of Bethlehem to be very busy.
Mary does not escape unscathed. What right-minded mother would place a new born baby in a dirty un-hygienic animal feeding trough, add to this the seemingly cavalier attitude of visiting, allowing, it would seem, all and sundry to simply wander in and view their new born baby, they even accepted gifts from complete strangers!
Thankfully the Christmas Story is not about health and safety, wither we are talking about Santa Claus or the Nativity. It is about hope and love overcoming adversity. It is about God becoming man. It is about,
“Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine.”
A long journey, a dirty stable, a food trough for a bed, uninvited guests, regardless of what the Health and Safety manual might say, what better role model could there be?