He had trudged on for days
Through the cold and the heat
Till the dust of long roads
Was caked hard on his feet 
And behind on the donkey
Mary followed as best
As she could though she ached 
And she wished they could rest
Then she touched Joseph’s shoulder
And he turned with a smile
Their eyes knowingly met 
So, he paused for a while

Then he looked to the village 
At the crest of the hill
And remembered God’s promise
Was to be there fulfilled
And he picked up the reins 
Then pressed on one more mile
Trusting this was God's place
For the birth of His child

Joseph's Pause by Peter Caligiuri copyright 2021 all rights reserved

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David: To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. Luke 2:4-5 KJV