Mary Said "Yes"

Daily Gratitude Year 7- Day 337: Today, I am grateful Mary said, "Yes".

In this advent season, Mary always holds a special place in my heart. The scriptures clearly define her as an ordinary girl. 

Francesca Battistelli's "Be Born In Me" is one of my favorite Christmas songs. It was written by Nicole Nordeman and it brings to life and to light the power of Mary's "Yes". 

God had been silent for 400 years. Never absent but quietly keeping His hand and His eye on his people. His timing is always perfect, but in this case, God would wait for a "yes" from Mary. 

God would not control Mary and Joseph. He invited them into the adventure that would change their lives and the world. It takes my breath away. Truly! This awesome story that we revisit each Christmas never grows old. 

"And it came to pass..." Finally, the time was right. Two ordinary people would be the humans to receive, raise up and relate to this God-child from birth to manhood. They were not holy... but they would raise up heaven's promised Messiah. Mary was the first one to say "Yes". She submitted to the Holy Spirit and God's will for her life. 

She would conceive a child in the strangest way. No one believed her in the beginning. People talked about her behind her back through the pregnancy. She would wait until after the birth of Jesus to become a wife in the most intimate way. All her childhood dreams of love, wedding nights and marriage were shattered. Did she feel special... or heartbroken? 

It probably depended on the day. How many dirty looks and hushed whispers did she receive at the market or water well on a daily basis. People gossiped then as they do now. She must have felt shattered at times, but out of her broken dreams grew a heart strong enough to raise "God with us". I can only imagine it, but this video helps:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7ClXvC1HVM

"Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her." -Luke 1:38

An ordinary girl with an extraordinary heart. 

"Lord, help each of us to be more like Mary this advent season. Give us the courage to say "yes" to your best in our lives... even if it scares us. Help us to honor you with our "best yes" in all we do. Thank you for coming in such a humble way so that we might know you as our Savior." -amen 

Today, I am grateful Mary said, "Yes".