"She That Belieived"

This last Christmas, a friend of mine told me of a tradition she had started in her family to make the Holiday more focused and meaningful.  Each week leading up to Christmas, they would choose one character from their nativity and pull it to the forefront of their display.  The figure chosen would be who they would search and ponder about in the scriptures for that week.  What a wonderful tradition!

Christmas is past now but I have felt compelled to take some time to study about Mary, the mother of Jesus.  As I have done so, I have tried to place myself in her stead and imagine the story of how it all came to be.  How would she tell her story in her own words?  Mind you, I have again taken some liberties.  ;)  (Miriam is the Hebrew version of the name, Mary.  I love that because, Miriam is a very special name to me and my daughter's name is Miriam.  Maybe that's why I've taken such interest in Mary.) 

..........................................
Mary's Story
(Luke 1)

It's difficult for me to find the words to adequately explain the change that took place at that point in my life but I knew from the beginning something extraordinary was happening. I felt this Spirit within me, a beautiful Spirit full of life and pure light.  It grabbed hold of my heart so intensely! At times, It was as if I couldn't breathe for the feeling was so overwhelming. This continued for several days, morning and night.  As I went about doing my work, I felt the beating of my heart grow more powerful and stronger than I had ever experienced before.  It filled me with astonishment. So impressive was its pulse that I thought that my heart might pound right out of my chest.  It near consumed me with exhaustion.  I felt weak.

One night, I knelt in earnest prayer before the Lord and asked him to help me understand this impressive power that had taken hold of my soul. I was engaged to be married to a wonderful man, named Joseph.  I had great feelings for him - I understood those feelings and knew them very well.  But this new Spirit that had taken hold of my heart was distinctively different. It was familiar to what I felt for my sweet Joseph but it was greater, even magnified beyond anything I could begin to describe.  "Lord, what is happening to me?  Is this something I have imagined within myself?  Am I going completely crazy or is this real? What is this that I am feeling?" I plead for an answer.

An angel appeared before me.  He greeted me most warmly and told me that I was highly favored of the Lord and blessed among women. He told me not to be afraid for I had found favor with God.  This was so relieving to hear and I wept great tears of gratitude for there were moments that I felt as if perhaps I was wrong or that I had somehow betrayed my dear Joseph.

 The angel said that I was to bear a son and call Him Jesus.  He proclaimed, "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:  And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end."

"How can it be?" I asked him.  "I've never been with anyone. I have been faithful. How can this happen?"

The angel then told me that the Holy Ghost would come upon me, and the power of the Highest would overshadow me. He told me I would bear the Son of God.

 My mind was reeling! I couldn't believe what my ears were hearing. I expected to awake at any moment and find it was all a dream.  "Me?" I questioned.  "Why on earth would God ever choose me? Surely, there were other women far more qualified, far more righteous, and far more capable than myself...  how could anyone be capable of such a task but most especially me? There is no way!  I am among the weakest of the weak, what if I fail?" I wrestled with a multitude of insecurities.

Then, the angel announced that I was not the only one experiencing a mighty miracle, he said my dear cousin, who had been barren for years, would also be having a child.
I wept with excitement and wonder.  I pondered for a long time.  The angel perceived the fears that continued to disrupt my peace and testified boldly, "With God nothing shall be impossible."  Gratitude washed over me like a flood, for I knew the goodness of God, and I believed with all my heart that his words were true. I fell to my knees, and heaved a sigh of beautiful surrender, "Be it unto me according to thy word." And the angel was gone.

A few days later, I traveled to visit my dear cousin, Elizabeth.  Walking up the road, I caught sight of her from a distance. I called out as I ran hastily to meet her.  She turned to me and cried with elation, "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.  And how is it that the mother of my Savior has come to visit?!" She knew, without me saying a word, she knew!  We embraced and she told me of how her baby leaped inside of her the minute she heard my voice.  She kissed my face and tenderly cradled my head in her hands, "Blessed is she that believed," she said lovingly, "for all of the things that were promised you by the Lord will happen."

We talked late into the evening. We shared testimony of the greatness of God and bore witness of His mighty miracles and infinite mercy.

How humbled I feel that He would choose me as His handmaiden in my low estate.  Truly my spirit rejoices in God, my beloved Savior, and my soul will magnify Him all my days!

......................

-Alicia