Some of you may remember this blog from last year but I need to be reminded! Shortly after college, I volunteered at a Florence Crittenton home in Charlotte where girls lived during their pregnancies. Most of their parents had nothing to do with them because of their choices. I spent one night a week with them and got to know some of the girls. If I had to give one word to describe them it would be, "scared". They were afraid of the future, giving birth and what people thought. And they were older than Mary!
Mary’s response to the angel, when learning of her being with child, was, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me according to your word.” What a beautiful and difficult response of faith. Mary was to put her life on hold, forget her plans, think about her reputation, think about Joseph's response, her parent's response and be open to humiliation. Mary accepted God's will for her life and became the mother of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior.
If we want to celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, we need to be like Mary and surrender our lives to Him. Not our will but His will be done. Luke 22: 42, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." We sometimes have to say, even if includes hurt, illness, inconvenience in my life. Mark 10: 28, "Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!" In verse 29, Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel." We have our own plans and sometimes they get changed but we have to trust God. It's hard to lay it all down but I don't know anyone who regrets following God's plan!
Have a Mary Christmas!
This was a wonderful reminder for me as well. I was a volunteer at the CMC Hospital in Charlotte who “Rocked the babies” of the Florence Crittenton Homes deliveries because often there was no one to bond with the babies, so we cuddled and snuggled and just rocked these precious little ones. I can remember the feel of those precious ones in my arms❤️. Thank you for this memory today!