I’ve been thinking about Mary a lot in the past few weeks. We have something in common this Christmas… This time of year, we remember her and Joseph’s long journey to Bethlehem while she was “great with child.” I’m not “great” with child, but there’s a lima bean sized mini Miller inside me, growing every day. (I’m now 10 weeks along in my pregnancy, baby Miller “numero dos” is due sometime around July 22).
Reading the story of Mary’s pregnancy in Luke 1 reminds me how different our situations are… and what an incredible woman of faith Mary was.
She was young and inexperienced. (I’m not exactly a young mom… and Abe seems to have multiplied my parenting knowledge exponentially). She was unmarried (betrothed). In society, she had no position or place to earn the respect a mother deserved. (God’s intervention and Joseph’s obedience provided the protection she needed—but this came later, only after she received the angel’s news in faith). This was her first child. Surely she felt the same wonderings, the same anxieties, the same unknowings any first time mother feels.
Yet when she heard the angel’s strange news “You will conceive and give birth to a son,” her eyes did not focus on all these things. Instead, she heard the truth and the hope in the angel’s proclamation. Instead of bewilderment and questions, her response was praise.
“My heart praises the Lord. My soul is glad because of God my Savior…. from now on, all people will call me happy because of the great things the mighty God has done for me. His name is holy.” (Luke 1: 46,49 Good News)
I long for that response for the faith-requiring situations in my life, that instead of seeing obstacles and walls, I would respond to the hope in God’s promises. As the angel proclaimed that day, “His kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:33).
Merry Christmas to everyone from Rachel, Mark, Abe, and Mini Miller the Second
(Pictured: Family photo at the mall)
5 comments:
Well, well, well! Many congratulations, Rachel, we are happy for y'all.
(I see you are still comparing your children to fruit and vegetables ... :-) )
Congrats on your happy news. Children are such a blessing and you and Mark are great parents.
I look forward to watching your blog for updates on the littlest of your family.
Merry Christmas,
The Spitzers
Congratulations!! Hope you had a good Christmas!
Congratulations! We were just talking about you all during our recent meeting. Meg and Doug said you all were doing fine!
Blessed 2009,
Chai Gim
St George's Church
CONGRATS!! We love you. And, by the way, we're still enjoying the book you gave us. We got one for my sister and her family for Christmas and passed along the Sunday night tradition of reading that you passed along to us!
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