Articles

The uncertainty. Not only was Mary pregnant, but she had become pregnant without intercourse. Not only was she pregnant, but the baby was not conceived with the man she was meant to marry. Not only was Mary pregnant, but she was told her child would be the Savior of the world. 

Can you imagine? Not only the uncertainty, but the confusion and the fear and the panic. This young woman, promised in marriage to Joseph, was pregnant and afraid and yet she said “yes.” She said “yes” to God. She said “yes” to carrying out a plan that was never hers. Mary said “yes” to giving life to a baby that was, in all ways, unexpected.

If there ever was a time in the history of man that a woman would consider her options, it could have happened with Mary. Nothing made sense and yet she answered the call. She didn’t ask for it, she didn’t know how she would handle it, and she didn’t even really know the father of this child. And yet, she nurtured the baby in her womb, she journeyed to the place he was to be born, and she gave birth under the most unlikely of circumstances. When everything seemed to be against her, she continued on to the birth of her son – God’s son – and the blessings began to overflow. 

Angels sang over her, visitors came bearing gifts of gold and luxurious healing oils, people she’d never met were praying for her from afar. Her willing heart brought her to this point of unending joy that would cover the earth for eternity. 

The significance of one woman choosing this particular life is incredible. What if she had exercised a choice that would have ended the life of the one man who could guarantee our place in Heaven? What if Mary had made the powerful choice to take away our forgiveness? What if Mary, this young teen woman, had stopped the beating heart of our Savior? And there was nothing anyone could do about it. 

Every baby deserves life. All of us deserve the chance to have a person born that has within them the knowledge of the cure for cancer, or the ability to create solutions to so many of our earthly problems. Every baby brings unexpected blessings of praying people who care and gifts that cannot be seen. Angels sing praises over every baby and joy will be felt by everyone whose life is touched by a new life. Planned or unexpected, every child is a miracle and blessing to be celebrated. 

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”  Luke 1:38