It was a typical snowy winter night in Colorado. I had waited till everyone went to bed, staring out the frost covered window waiting for Santa. I was 5 years old and I was determined to see Santa for myself. As I stared outside into the dark night, I could see the streetlights from the living room window and I watched as the snow fell slowly in front of me. Every sound I heard, made me wonder if Santa and his sleigh had landed on our roof. At one point gazing out the window, I swore I heard sleigh bells. I don’t know how long I stood at that window waiting for Santa, but I eventually gave up and went back to bed. I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to see Santa. Have you ever eagerly awaited something, to just be disappointed? Years later, it makes me evaluate if I am as eager for the arrival of the Christ child as I was for Santa? Would I stay up all night, waiting for His arrival, looking for a sign that will bring peace, joy and love to everyone?
I could not imagine being Mary back in the day and having an angel appear to me and tell me that I would give birth to the Messiah. The angel didn’t use a big flashy neon sign or appear on a popular talk show to reveal themself. The angel told Mary that she was highly favored AND do not be afraid. Mary was troubled and questioned why she would be chosen. Then she simply said, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled. (Luke 1:38) I definitely would not have been this calm. I would not have been at peace as an angel appeared to me. I have a fear of the unknown and situations that I cannot control. In my imperfect life of faith, I struggle with letting go and letting God handle my day-to-day life. Mary was an example of having faith in a situation she could not control.
If I had one word to describe Mary it would be grace. In Mary’s Song in Luke 1:46-48 she says. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.” Mary was rejoicing that the Lord had chosen her to be the Mother of Jesus. She wasn’t mad, she wasn’t upset, she wasn’t depressed and she wasn’t afraid. She was humbled that the Lord chose her. Grace is not something that is earned but given. Mary found favor in the Lord and he blessed her with a Son. His son.
Another word I would use to describe Mary is love. One of the verses that always resonates with me as I read about the birth of Jesus is in Luke 2:19 “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” She had just given birth to Jesus and yet she was in the moment. She loved Jesus, was full of pride and treasured him in her heart. Jesus was destined to be the Savior and was not her own child. But that didn’t matter to Mary, for she was full of love for him and treasured her time with him. I imagine that Mary and Joseph never anticipated having to take a back seat to parenting Jesus. I wish that the bible would have shared more with us about the journey that Mary and Joseph took alongside the life of Jesus as he grew up.
Mary gave us the greatest gift when she gave birth to Jesus. His birth had been foretold, anticipated, eagerly awaited and do I have that same feeling about his birth? Do I treasure this gift up in my heart as Mary did some two thousand years ago? The gift of Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. He wasn’t born in a fancy hospital or had a nice soft bassinet to lay in. He was swaddled and laid on some straw surrounded by barn animals. Can you imagine the smell?
One of my favorite Christmas hymns to sing at our Christmas Eve Service is “Joy to the World”. It is such a powerful song that I almost want to shout it as I’m singing it. I bet after the birth of Jesus the shepherds and wise men would have wanted to sing for joy at the arrival of the new King, the Messiah and the deliverer. It’s probably the same excitement and anticipation I had as a little girl waiting for Santa. How amazing would it have been if I could share with my friends that I saw Santa? How much more amazing would it have been to get to meet Jesus, walk with him and listen to him share the good news?
As I start to decorate my house for Christmas, purchase gifts for loved ones and write out my Christmas cards, I want to remember Mary. Humble, graceful, loving Mary in her journey to Bethlehem. During this season of Christmas, after the presents have been opened and the big holiday meal has been eaten, treasure it all up in your heart. What brings you joy this Christmas Season? Are you looking for Jesus under the tree? Are you anticipating his arrival? Are you humbled that Jesus became man and died on the cross for you? Remember Mary and her faithful devotion.
