It wasn't a mistake....

I have had something on my heart lately. I guess more like someone. I have been studying Mary during this Christmas season, and the birth of Christ. I have always thought of the story of Jesus birth as a wonderfully romantic story with babies and love and mushy stuff. As I study more, I have come to find it wasn't, not even a little. It seems we have made it out to be that Mary became pregnant and they all celebrated. Mary and Joseph rode for miles and miles on a very comfortable donkey to a warm comfy stable where she had baby Jesus and placed in him the manger. It was.. except, Mary became pregnant and wasn't married. Not good. She rode on a donkey very pregnant for miles and miles... and miles. Not so good. And then, she gave birth... ya know without and epidural and all! In a cold stable... with cows and sheep. Very not good. It wasn't soft and fuzzy. It was long, and hard and cold.



Mary was about 12 years old when she was told by an Angel that she would become pregnant and give birth to a son.

Luke 1 31-33

You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.

Seriously? Can you even imagine what that must have been like? Can you imagine being that young, and an angel comes to you and tells you are pregnant and would soon deliver the Christ Child? Um... really? Not only was she young, she was to be married, and she had never been with a man. We all know how babies are made, and... well... you have to be with a man.

Luke 1:34-38

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The holy spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Yeah, that is totally what I would have said too, and then I would have said "HUH?" "I am going to do what? I am a young girl, I am going to be married! I will disgrace my family, and Joseph's family! I could be stoned to death or exiled! Do you know what this do to me!? I am busy, I don't have time or money to have a baby! Have you looked around? Why don't you bring the Son of God to us through somebody else please!?

But, not Mary. She just simply said... okay. "May it be to me as you have said."

What an amazing response from a amazing, humble woman of faith.

I want to have Mary's faith. I want to have the kind that when pushed by God , I simply say, "okay." There are so many times in our lives when we say, "not now God, there is too much going on." Maybe later when things are easier. I think you might have the wrong person for this job. Ask someone wiser and stronger. I can't do this, I really can't"

God knew exactly who he wanted to give birth to Jesus. He hand picked her, just like he hand picks us. Everyday we are chosen to do things, will we be like Mary? What is it that God is asking you to do? It could be calling you to change, or to move, or to act.

I am so thankful for Mary and her amazing example of faith, even when it seems impossible.

Merry Christmas!!

Katie