for the infant king,” Usually a man of many words, Aretas deposited laden sacks upon the altar without further discourse.
Hor stepped forward with a linen bundle secured by golden tassels. “Myrrh, for your son shall be a great healer.”
Joseph bowed. “We are grateful for your recognition of Yeshua. May the Light guide you always.”
The young father offered them food as his wife excused herself. Belshazzar looked up to see Yeshua smiling over his mother’s shoulder. Although Aretas and Hor took their leave after the meal, Belshazzar accepted Joseph’s kind offer of lodging.
Late into the night he told the young father that seers predicted the boy would study with mystics in Egypt, Hindus, and the Himal mountains, but Joseph refused to be parted from his wife and child. "My tribe expects a legitimate heir for Yeshua was not born in the month of kings. I cannot leave my home and family, but prophesies continue to be fulfilled. Perhaps Yeshua is the mashiach who will unite the tribes against the Roman oppression.”
Belshazzar smiled kindly, “This child was sent to embody Divine Love, the one who shall bring peace to the world.” Joseph’s eyes still reflected his doubt. “When the time comes you will be guided to bring the child into Egypt. I will meet you in Alexandria and train the boy up with my own son. There are two mystics I studied with in my youth, one from the Himal range, a follower of the Buddha, his name is Zsao. The other is Reiti from Ujjain in the Hindus region. They shall come to Nazareth.”
From around his neck, he removed a small leather pouch decorated with the crown feather of a falcon. “Place this upon the child. It contains precious elestial quartz. I shall watch over Yeshua from afar.”
Before taking his leave on the third day, he bid the dancer farewell. The small pouch with the seer’s stone nestled in lion’s mane lay protectively at Yeshua’s waist. Holding the precious babe, Belshazzar was filled with light and love. “Welcome, my prince, may your dance into this life bring you great joy.” And to his delight the child responded silently
“I shall listen for your wise drumming.”
He handed the child back to an auburn-haired woman with generous curves. “I am happy to see you have come to care for the child.”
Hava smiled at him, “You have been missed on the Mount, my friend.”
Down the ridge through the mists and into the valley of Jezreel, he headed for the Great Sea, keeping the sacred rhythm until it was time to welcome the divine dancer’s feminine partner in Migdol.
Now to the beat of his walking stick, Belshazzar journeys home to his wife in Aksum. His eldest son has had a son of his own. He shall teach the child to beat his drum with compassion.
***
Welcome, precious Sarah, to the world.
On the eve of the new moon of Sivan, like unto the dark void which births the light, you came. Your emergence from your mother’s womb marked my delivery into divine humanness, my prayers answered when you received sacred breath from my mouth. Now as you suckle at her breast, I am awash with gratitude for my life. Your bronze skin kissed by the eternal glow of your hayye, like your Ima, dark and most beautiful to me. Sarah, you are perfect in body and soul. May your mind gain wisdom with your time on this precious earth. May your soul connect intimately to Eloha while your body grows strong and lovely. As your Ima kisses your dimpled cheek, my desire to merge with your spirit is profound. May your joy be complete in your human form, precious daughter of mine.
My eternal love and devotion, Abba
Under the dark cloak of night, my moonlight confidante is all I need to suckle my newborn back to sleep. A tiny fist opens to press my breast closer to her lips. She speaks silently, Ima, I am happy to be with you and Abba.
Sarah, you are my delight. Sighing with pleasure, I cannot imagine not spending these precious midnight moments with her.
There has been some turmoil these past two weeks when Joseph insisted that Sarah be wet-nursed. Despite his arguments that I am weak, depleted, and need to recover, I have stubbornly refused. He went as far as to have an intimate conversation with Yeshua about how nursing will interfere with our marriage bed. Laying Sarah down safely between cushions, I snuggle in closer to my husband.
“Is she asleep?”
He responds to my affirmative kiss by pressing the hardness of his body into the softness of mine. My heart beats rapidly for it has been so long. Hearing my thoughts, he whispers into my neck, “Yes, forty-seven very long days and nights.” I smile to myself. So he kept count.
Thirteen days after giving birth, my body is slow to respond. “Forgive me, Yeshua.”
“Hush, beloved, I expected this,” he produces a small vial of oil. “You didn’t think I would only get Abba’s opinion.” Thank goodness he talked to Miriam.
Suddenly, it occurs to me that I had better protect myself from conceiving. I sit up carefully so not to disturb the baby. Yeshua looks dubious, “Ima said that while you are nursing you probably cannot get pregnant.”
“I would feel better being sure.”
In quiet repose across from me, Yeshua watches as I weave white light around my womb. My next child will be a son born when Sarah is four years old. Expressing my gratitude, I bid Archangel Gavriel goodnight.
“Is everything all right, Mary?”
“We are safe from conceiving for another three years.”
“You have this all planned.”
I shrug, “Just following Divine advice.”
We begin making love again tentatively. Although it has been a blessing that my nipples have become insensitive to Sarah’s hungry mouth, I can hardly feel my husband’s caresses. Yeshua comes close to my cheek and kisses it softly. “Beloved, what is wrong?”
“It is not the same,” I whisper tearfully.
“Does it not feel as wonderful to you as it does to me?” I shake my head sadly. “We will find new ways to make love.” Drawing me into his chest, he kisses me tenderly. Milk begins to leak at his touch, which offends him not.
“Mmm. Sarah drinks the sweetest nectar of all.”
Smiling at his playfulness, I receive his offering and a distant stirring heats my loins. When his eagerness causes me discomfort, I ask him to lie back, using the oil on both of us. His face reflects pleasure and soon I reach a long-awaited release. Pulling me into his chest to stifle my cries, he whispers, “Let us not wake her. If it’s still too early we can find other ways of pleasuring each other.”
I apologize, feeling slightly guilty that he is still waiting. With the oil, our mutual caresses ignite a great need so he moves between my clenched thighs and soon joins me.
Lying
